Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion (2009)

Ok, so I admit I'm a big Animal Collective Fan. BUT, I've always found their albums hard to listen to all the way through. I'm a skipper of songs. One of the first things I heard about this album was that pitchfork gave it a 9.7 or something ridiculously pretentious like that. Normally, I'm one of those assholes who just loves to disagree with the common sentiment, especially if it comes from Pitchfork. BUT, the new Animal Collective album is nothing short of amazing. I've heard from around the way girls that their single "My Girls" is blowing up. I'm conflicted about this. Because by the way "My Girls", is one of the best songs I've ever heard. But a band like this - I want to keep them too close for comfort. I feel about them the same way I feel about Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia (my absolute favorite television program0. I'm happy it's getting popular because it means it will march on - BUT I also have the urge to hold it close. This is definitely the most listenable Animal Collective album. BUT, the combination on Strawberry Jam of "For Reverend Green" and "Fireworks" is def one of my fave one-two punches ever. Check those out as well. BUT, I have to give Aminal Collective a high five for this album. I mean, have you listened to "My Girls"?!?!?! Nothing short of amazing. Some other faves from this album include "Blusish", and "Brothersport". In the middle of "Brothersport" I feel like I'm about to lose my mind - in a good way. I really don't know what else to say about this album aside from Animal Collective is one of the most creatively innovative jam bands today. I'm conflicted about this album because I'm an elitist asshole and its so good I know it will recruit a multitude of new fans. And I want them to keep it real, keep it weird. But with this album they really do! And for what its worth, from a hard-core fan of theirs before this, I'm continuously impressed and would recommend this to anyone. Give it a try, you've kindof got to be trying to be an asshole not to like this album.

Best songs: My Girls, Bluish, Brothersport.

QuickCrit Music Survey Results - Top 40 Albums (1-10)

1. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
“Another one on the top of various lists. I kept hearing it piecemeal and I kept liking what I was hearing. Too bad about their being French.” - WarMachine

“A month and a half plus of starting out my workday with this album spells out album of the year to me.” - ancient indian wizard

“Always had a soft spot for these guys. Really polished pop songwriting. So tuneful!” - Jeremy B.

“One of the best live shows i saw all year as well.” - Max D.

“The kind of music that can instantly change your mood... for the better.” - NightraiN

“This album just makes me happy every time I listen to it.” - ve1cro

“A band that's even better live, Phoenix makes danceable indie that leaves you feeling happy and relaxed. If you're looking for reasons to hate this band, good luck.” - Mona

“Thought they might be ridding on the coat tails of the MGMT scene and was skeptical at all the hype but this band won me over.” - Layne

“OMG, who knew the French made awesome music?!?! Seriously.” - The Crane Wife

2. Passion Pit - Manners
“Holy dancefest. I introduced this to a coworker who hated it at first and then blasted it on the regular. You kinda want to not like it but you totally love it. If it was a Facebook relationship it would be complicated.” - ancient indian wizard

“Manners has been the #1 release of '09 for months now. Nothing can top danceable indie like this that is creative, inventive, flawless and addictive as hell. In the movie of my life, "Moth's Wings" would hopefully play in the trailer.” - Mona

“It's almost come to the point where I have to be embarrassed by this, but when I'm honest with myself, I listened to this album more than any other this year.” - WarMachine

“For all the ‘Chunk of Change’ lovers who turned into haters: WAKE THE F*** UP!” - Lucas C.

“This is just an all around great album.” - The Crane Wife


3. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
“It's a hit!” - HotCatato

“A beautiful album by an aptly named band.” - Jeremiah H.

“Took me a while to actually get into this album but it's really unlike anything I’ve ever listened to (and liked). One of those albums that reveals itself more and more with each listen.” - Max D.

“Probably the most accessible Animal Collective album to date, but then again that's not really saying all that much.” - Mona

“5 years ago I hated Animal Collective. This fact illustrates the beauty & joy of music.” - Lucas C.

“What can I add? This will probably end up being tops on the survey, and rightfully so. I'm just glad they finally dumbed down their music enough so that I could get into it.” - WarMachine


4. Metric - Fantasies
“Put this on and watch me dance the pop spaztastic.” - awmercy

“Their songs pass the campfire test. I appreciate that.” - Jeremy B.

“When I first heard this, I asked myself, why would I listen to Metric when I could just pop in the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs? The answer, of course, is because the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs are awesome and this album has earned the comparison.” - WarMachine

“With lyrics like "higher than high, lower than deep" and "hard to be soft , tough to be tender" the female front woman proves she’s one hell of a song writer too. - Layne




5. Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
“You can find me stuck in LA traffic singing this song at the top of my lungs.” - HotCatato

“An amazing melodic, at times discordant, audio soundscape. The three ladies singing backup show some mindblowingly innovative acapella chops. Stick with it....it grows on you.” - Tex

“Phew — took me some time to get the hang of this one. Can't say as though I love it, but it's a force, nonetheless, to be reckoned with.” - Jeremiah H.

“While I don't love this entire album as much as some, Stillness is the Move, Cannibal Resource and No Intention are amazing songs.” – WarMachine


6. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
“Playing this album will get you laid. 60% of the time, it works every time.” - Rain

“She calls them ‘Killer Whales’ but I call them ‘Panda Whales.’” - ancient indian wizard

“Perhaps this is my sentimental best album of the year (certainly, the most heavily played, for me). Neko is a beautiful force to be recokened with.” - Jeremiah H.

"I love the way she says 'killer whales'.” - HotCatato

"’People Gotta A Lot Of Nerve’ is a perfect song. One of America’s great unsung heroes does it again. “ - Lucas C.



7. The Builders & The Butchers - Salvation Is A Deep Dark Well
“Urgent and macabre celebrations of our oncoming destruction.” - awmercy

“Kind of creepy, but kind of good.” - Jeremy

“They took a good thing and made it better. Dark, rollicking and unique. Tell your friends.” – NightraiN









8. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
“I really feel they hit their stride with this album. French Navy is bonkers good! I want to get all kissy face like they do in the video for the song. You should too!” - ancient indian wizard

“Love this band, can they ever do any wrong? This album proves they can still inspire ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ when they sing ‘ooh’ and ‘aah.’” - Mona

“This album is great. It was in the CD player in my car for a long time until I almost burnt out on it and had to take a break. Now Fiest's first album is in the CD player. Although both are good, I like My Maudlin Career better.” - The Crane Wife

“Just popped this in recently and I still love it. Holds together so well as an album.” - WarMachine

“Great updated girl group sound.” - Brasilliant


9. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
“It's the perfect mix of Memphis horns, country grit, and rock n' roll.” - awmercy

“An album with that rare combination of.. well... everything. Oh the horns!” - NightraiN

“Solid outing from one of my favorites -- the horns grew on me.” – Jeremy








10. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
“Can't really explain why this album pulls at my heart strings, it just does.” - ve1cro

“It's amazing how great the Strokes solo efforts have been.” - Lucas C.

War Machine's 2009 Summer 5

I just got 95% of the way through this post only to accidentally lose it, so I'm going to begrudgingly try it again. It's going to be shorter this time, though.

Apologies for not embedding the video. Keep up the good work, those that do, it makes it so much easier to decide for myself when I can just click a button and listen. I'd do it too, but I don't know how. Links will have to suffice. [Update: videos added]

"Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit

Passion Pit is on every one's list this summer, so no new ground here. But this song is a standard deviation better than every other song on the album, and there are some other great ones. Video rocks too.

Here's a thought. Most of us have heard the story where Michael Angelakos, who was not in any band at the time, made a Valentines Day CD of six songs for his college girlfriend. (Not a shitty mixtape, mind you, his songs.) The songs got passed around campus, picked up locally, they turned it into an EP and formed a band and turned the EP into an album and here we are. Sleepyhead, as I understand it, was on that first CD. Here's my question, did that song on the CD sound like the song as I hear it on "Manners?" Because if it did...holy shit! Can you imagine being that girl? Or even, being the dorm room roommate of that girl? I suspect, on that particular Valentines Day, there wasn't a whole lot of sleepy, but a hell of a lot of...well you get it.

I'm just saying she owed him. Big time.



"Nothing to Worry About" - Peter, Bjorn and John

This song is a little long in the tooth but I just discovered it. It makes me want to dance until my ass falls off...or until two minutes and 58 seconds are over. Whichever comes first.

I've got to get me to Sweden at some point. There's too much coming out of there right now that I love...except for the IKEA tool. I hate the IKEA tool.



"Arlington. The Rap."

You don't really have to have lived in Arlington, VA to understand this. It makes it funnier, but it's not required. Could have just as easily been Annaheim or Schaumburg. Except for the Green Line joke.

I can't believe I lived there for 5 years. Sigh.



"Gifted" - N.A.S.A. (Featuring Kanye West, Santogold and Lykke Li)

Look at that lineup. Do I have to even explain why the song is awesome? The best part is, it is awesome, as opposed to, say, "The Best of Both Worlds."Decidedly not awesome.



"My Girls" - Animal Collective

This is as catchy an Animal Collective song as I am aware of. And I love catchy. The album is pretty great too. Very accessible, which means I can like it. Close runner-up is the Camera Obscura song French Navy, another great song off an album I'm loving.

Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic (2009)

Here We Go Magic mines similar ground to Animal Collective, Panda Bear, and El Guincho, roughly fitting into that category of experimental, rhythmic indie pop. Unlike those other bands, most of HWGM's songs more closely follow a defined pop structure (if just slightly). The lyrics are clearly intelligible and the vocals on "Only Pieces" actually sound a lot like Paul Simon. The second half of the album loses it's focus and isn't as strong the first half, seeming a bit like filler. It may not be as exciting as Animal Collective, but "Fangela" and "Tunnelvision" sound pretty good to me.

Japandroids - Post-Nothing (2009)

No offense to Canada, but I kinda wish this band was American. They're just so good, Japandroids should have been ours.

When I first read that "Japandroids" was the musical portmanteau compromise for two bandmates who each wanted to name their band something different ("Japanese Scream" and "Pleasure Droids"), I was decidedly curious to give these boys a listen, but my laziness got the best of me. And then today I finally listened... and it's just so fucking good. This album grabbed the #1 spot on my "Albums I Wish I Wish Had Listened To Sooner" list, mainly because of the infectious and energetic garage rock noise I could have been enjoying all this time. Albums like this make me wish part of the "friend" job description included a clause about staging musical interventions for other friends "in need." Why didn't someone insist I drop everything and listen to this record? I now urge you to do the same. But I can't be held responsible should you feel the need to air drum the night away, because you will.

Gotta love the eleventh hour upset that leaves you reeling. Post-Nothing has completely annihilated my Top 10 of 2009 that I thought I'd already finished, knocking Harlem Shakes, Phoenix and Animal Collective out of the top spots they'd already secured for the greater portion of the year. Think exuberant music that is slightly rough around the edges, yet manages to lace in a little sweetness and lots of heart. It's noise pop drenched with distortion that is still melodic as hell and slightly danceable... that is, if spinning around your room with your stereo turned up counts as dancing. Its sheer rock vibe is a fantastic contrast to all the synth-pop, quirky indie rock, and electro-indie that reigned supreme in 2009. Post-Nothing struck a sentimental chord because their fun, uncomplicated songs are reminiscent of the good old days of the late '90s and early '00s when my life consisted of blasting Alkaline Trio and The Get Up Kids in my car on the weekends on the way to seeing assorted punk/emo bands [most likely off the Vagrant/Epitaph/DeSoto/Jade Tree Records rosters] with all the inevitable scenesters.

If ever I had to pick an album from 2009 to blast in my car as I drive off a cliff in one blaze of glory and emerge victoriously from the car crash unscathed, Post-Nothing would be it. And "Wet Hair" would be the perfect song to soundtrack the moment.

popquizkid's Hi, I'm New Here summer short list

Happy summer, friends and strangers!

I've had the pleasure of reading everyone else's 5 Things, and damn, y'all took a lot of the good ones, but here's my list:

1. Sigur Ros "Gobbledigook." The song and the video make me so. unbelieeevably happy. And not (just) because of the nudity, awmercy. It's the energy of all those naked hippies and dudes with drumsticks. You can watch and listen here. If you're over 18, of course.


2. Usher "Love in This Club" performed by

THE SHOWBIZ PIZZA BAND!

When War Machine sent me this video he probably never guessed how it would affect me. Obviously, he has no idea how many Showbiz birthday parties I attended at the shy, impressionable age of 9, before Showbiz sold out to lame-ass Chuck E. Cheese's. Shiiit. All I know is, when I saw the Cheerleader get going, I laughed, I cried...and then I laughed again because "ball pit" suddenly sounded dirty.


3. Jenny Lewis. Lately I've been loving Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - especially "You Are What You Love" - but seeing Rilo Kiley play in Providence in May is what truly sparked my killer crush. The hair. The voice. The charisma. The shiny gold tights and hot pants. Sigh, Jenny Lewis is my silver lining.

4. The Black Kids "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance." This song has been on my iPod since January but much like the sounds of Chromeo and Coconut Records this kind of funkiness just didn't seem appropriate until the temperature topped 70. (Which took, like, forever.) I loved hearing the guys on All Songs Considered grumble about this song's catchy, youthful, 'verby sound. And I different kind of loved it when those guys listed the ingredients of an infectious indie hit: yelling/chanting + nonsense sounds + numbers. "One, Two, Three, Four!"

It's kind of true, right? These are some of the ingredients that drew me to Justice and The Go! Team and even Animal Collective. The Black Kids' first album Partie Traumatic comes out on July 22 in honor of the day of my birth. But honestly, who cares about their other songs.

5. Where the hell is Matt? "14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands" says the guy who took his aerobic jig around the world and just...danced...sometimes alone, sometimes with a huge crowd of people, while a friend caught it on video. This video was spreading virally through Tumblr a few weeks ago, and I reblogged it, as did a million other people. Quite simply, it made my heart happy. Read today's NYT article, watch the video, welcome the new-agey music, and let yourself love the world for four minutes. It's summer. You deserve it.

Nurses - Apples Acres (2009)

Portland's Nurses make weird, shambling indie rock that falls somewhere between Animal Collective and Dr. Dog. The songs sound like the band pieced together catchy fragments – vocal harmonies, rhythms, and tinkling piano – to create a casually psychedelic album that feels both imaginative and intimate. Perhaps the greatest trick is how they keep an awesome, whistle-happy aural mosaic like "Caterpillar Playground" from sounding overly cluttered. "Manatarms" lurches forward with the layered vocals and a percussive piano, while "Technicolor" shimmers and builds over almost ambient taps and gurgles. Every song sound playful and deceptively loose and off the cuff. While Aaron Chapman's nasal vocals and the lack of classic song structure might push some people away, repeat listens continue to be rewarding.

Top 10 Favorite Portland Albums from 2014

1.     Ages And Ages - Divisionary

Played this for more friends than any other album because I knew they'd like their personal and cathartic chorals. And they always did.

2.     A Happy Death - Introducing: A Happy Death

A perfect mix of punk aggression, psychedelic fuzz, and barstool stagger. (Bandcamp)

3.     Talkative - Hot Fruit Barbeque

Playful, fuzzy, sprawling, and spazzy in all the right ways. Splitting the difference between Animal Collective and Nurses. (Bandcamp)

4.     Daydream Machine - Twin Idols

Immediately loved this album; pure shoegaze bliss. (Bandcamp)

5.     Modern Kin - Live from the Banana Stand

The Banana Stand and Modern Kin really nailed this one, capturing an exciting and raw performance. Somehow knocking the doors off their killer debut album. (Bandcamp)

6.     Battleme - Future Runs Magnetic

After being blown away live, these songs kept those those moments fresh on my stereo, again and again. But will admit my favorite songs are off last year’s EP. 

7.     Thanks - Blood Sounds

Shoegaze soul, a hybrid genre out of my melodic fantasies. On heavy rotation for the first few months of the year and is still one of my favorites. (Bandcamp)

8.     Horse Feathers - So It Is With Us

Won over at just the prospect of a joyful Horse Feathers album, especially after hearing the terrific lead single, Violently Wild. (Bandcamp)

9.     Sallie Ford - Slap Back

Love that while she pushes sonically beyond her rockabilly roots, her frank lyrics are still delivered with a charismatic grin. 

10. TXE - Vs PRTLND

Terrific Portland hip hop album that samples the vibrant local indie rock scene making familiar songs their own. (Bandcamp)

The Dodos - Visiter (2008)

I just saw these guys last night and they're awesome. On the album, their indie folk falls somewhere between Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Animal Collective, and Iron & Wine's later releases. While the songs are catchy, it's the interplay between the drum and rhythm guitar that makes their music stand out. They toy with experimentation, but never loose the song. Live, they ramp up intensity, strumming faster, pounding harder, and just rock out. Check out "Fools", "Winter" and "Walking" for starters.

Amazing Baby - Rewild (2009)

Amazing Baby's Rewild has all the elements that I love in an indie psych album: space rock guitars, chugga-chugga drums, abstract chants, dance beats, and layered vocals. The songs perfectly balance the shimmering experimental jams of the Secrete Machines with the all-but-the-kitchen-sink glam pop of MGMT. Best of all, the songs remain tight and catchy. Of course, my immediate favorites were the ones I loved off their free Infinite Fucking Cross EP — "Headdress", "The Narwhal" and "Pump Your Breaks" — but the new additions are just as good. I especially like the astral and glittery "Bayonets", the tambourine bashing and echo laden "Kankra", and the propulsive and slinking guitar riddled "Deerripper". "Roverfrenz" even features clattering beats that recall recent Animal Collective. Somehow they pull it all together and live up the high expectations set by the EP.

Tex's Summer Short List

1. Kurt Vile - Smoke Rings For My Halo

I've been revisiting this album over and over since I first heard it in February, and everytime I find something new that resonates. It bears mentioning that I saw Kurt at a festival in Big Sur a few years ago and wasn't all that impressed. When you go in to an album with the attitude of an established non-fan, it takes twice the talent and good song writing to turn the listener. Good show, Kurt.



2. Henry Miller Memorial Library, Big Sur, CA

Attended maybe my 3rd show at this venue a few weeks ago, and I must say, it's becoming one of my favorite places ever. Great outdoor venue with very relaxed (read: non-existant) policeis towards bringing in your own food and drink. The sound is great, and as the sun sets among the redwoods, you begin to debate just sneaking off to the hills in the background and never coming back.
























3. Walk The Moon - "Anna Sun"

Stumbled across this on a playlist my friend Jeremiah put together. Lots going on, many layers, all infectiously fun.



4. Lord Huron

This fella has released 2 EPs, recorded entirely by himself. In a much deliberated breakdown, Lord Huron is: 50% Animal Collective, 30% Fleet Foxes, and 20% Vampire Weekend. Pretty winning ratio!



5. The Generationals - Actor-Caster

This is, straight up, my summer band this year. Think a slightly more polished showing from The Drums.

Who We Are Based On Musical Stereotypes

Now that music has gone digital and we can no longer scrutinize albums on the shelf (Kevin, I'm looking at you), so I guess interpreting their Top 10 lists is the best we can do. Here's our 2009 Top 20 as filtered through Flavorwire's Stereotyping People by Their Favorite Indie Bands (Thanks Tex!).

1. Phoenix
   People who don’t listen to enough music.
   
   
2. Passion Pit
   Bros vaguely interested in listening to music and very interested in having sex with their girlfriend.
   
   
3. Animal Collective
   Guys who make “Best of the Year” lists in January based predominantly on “feeling.”
   

6. Dirty Projectors
   People who like way too many toppings on their pizza.
   

11. The Antlers
    Boys who enjoy crying more than their girlfriend.
    

12. Girls
    Anyone who thinks The Catcher in Rye is the greatest book of all time.
    

15. Grizzly Bear
    People who think that world hunger could be assuaged with four part harmonies.
    

16. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    Girls who bought checkered sneakers in the 8th grade.
    

18. The XX
    Blog enthusiasts who thought wearing a keffiyeha was awesome.
    

OK, so we are obviously missing a couple. Let's fill in the rest. Bring on the snarkiness!

2010 Music Survey Results - Top 50 Albums (1-10)

# 1

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (August 3, 2010)

"The combination of epic anthems & suburban doldrums just does it for me. This was the first album I liked immensely immediately in a long while." - Cursivebuildings

"I knew it would be good, I didn't know it would be this good - like just turn it on & sit back for an hour listening at the kitchen table good. The mix of bland suburban themes & epic anthems just does it for me." - Anonymous

"I almost excluded this from my own list of nominees, based on the fact that I couldn't imagine The Suburbs NOT placing in the top 5 of every list.  I think I felt like it was an unfair fight.  Like the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals." - Tex

"The big news is that Arcade Fire sold a ton of records their first week. For some reason this caused a controversy... personally I would much rather have the youth of America, for just one week, be listening to The Suburbs than whatever else is usually beat over their heads. This is Arcade Fire turning introspective. Suburbs maintains their epic emotional power while showcasing a more subtle sonic approach. It suits them well." - Luc

"I don't know if Arcade Fire considers this a concept album or not, I haven't really read much about it, honestly. But it feels like a concept album to me, and it feels like they hit it just perfectly." - War Machine

"Soundtrack for a summer trip to the Austin, Texas suburbs." - Jeremy 

"Was there a choice to not include this album?" - Ernesto

"Alright - it was engineered to make top ten lists. But it's good. And it's thematic. Whatever happened to the thematic album?" - JC Hackett

"The thinking man's music, Arcade Fire makes." - Mona

"All in all, at 16 tracks and an hour of playtime, this is an ambitious release that puts the band's genre-jumping range, thoughtful and poetic songwriting and exceptional talents on full display." - NightraiN

"Like a summer afternoon, this album makes you want to lay in the park getting soaked and drink champagne." - Layne

Recommended track: "The Suburbs"

# 2

The National - High Violet (May 11, 2010)

"In the time of track-by-track musical enjoyment and critique, High Violet shows that the summation can truly outweigh it's parts....sometimes putting a bunch of pretty things in a frame together can really make something outstanding.  As individual tracks leaked before this album came out, I found myself pleased, but not expecting it to place very high at the end of the year.  After a few listens to the whole package, coupled by a live performance in October, it is unquestionably my favorite album of the year." - Tex

"Something about The National is so deeply comforting and passionate that it makes me reflectively sad and inexplicably happy at the same time -- the perfect mix of musically induced emotion." - NightraiN

"To my mind, the best band working today. The music is rich and intricate, both lyrically and sonically, they've released three straight incredible albums which all sound different from each other, and they put on what might just be the best live show I've ever seen." - Jeremy

"If I was stuck on a desert island and could only listen to one band, it might be The National.  I used to prefer their older stuff... until they released this album." - Hotcatato

"The truth is High Violet was just 1 or 2 great songs from being at the top of this list. Ten years in, this band has finally achieved greatness ... The Boxer was their breakout and this moody masterpiece is the proof that it was no fluke.  Frontman Matt Berninger lays his soul bare on this one - Violet is a testament to broken love, anxiety, regret & guilt. "It'll take a better war to kill a college man like me..."  Well said good sir, well said..." - Luc

"Matt Beringer's vocals are what is to be expected from one of the most talented singers and song writers of the 21st century. Deep, dark and under-caffeinated." - Layne

"This is also a great record, a close second to favorite of the year. The music, as always, is real interesting & the lyrics are, as always, sad dude stuff that never strays into whiny territory (that's a plus!)." - Cursivebuildings

"Sometimes I wonder if this is just an adult male thing, but my friends & I listen to these guys & wonder how they manage to record our hearts." - Anonymous

"This seems like a pretty common choice but maybe there's a reason for that!" - Joanie

"Of course this one of my top picks. I fell fast and hard to this album and really enjoy Matt Berninger's sultry voice." - ve1cro

"I read somewhere that the National had intended to write a happy album when they started this thing. I'm fairly certain that's not possible. This one will remove an organ and put it on the table and demand you to look at it and reckon the reality of the situation you're presented with." - JC Hackett

"Like Frightened Rabbit, they make fairly nonsensical lyrics sound amazing." - TheCraneWife

"Good follow up to Boxer, but not quite as well rounded." - Taylor

"Dark and ethereal." - Mona

Recommended track: "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

# 3

The Black Keys - Brothers (May 18, 2010)

"Great album all around: I love their sound, good lyrics, and some great videos." - Julia

"I kinda feel bad for picking them every year, but then I listen to them, and don't feel bad at all." - Sandenuts

"Soulful, pounding blues. This is my comfort food." - awmercy

"Hard hitting, no frills, ROCK!" - Max D

"First time I listened I felt sure I MUST have heard these songs somewhere before.  This is the kind of music that would be a hit no matter what decade its released." - Hotcatato

"Exactly what you'd expect from the Black Keys." - War Machine

"Hard to get tired of this one." - Ernesto

"These dudes are legends already... this album and especially a few choice tracks just heightens their profile that much more. Sick." - NightraiN

"It's almost criminal how great this album is.  Catchy, bluesy-rock like this never goes out of style." - Mona

Recommended track: "Tighten Up"

# 4

Beach House - Teen Dream (January 26, 2010)

"Dreamy-pop at it's best." - Max D

"This album has a huge, atmospheric sound and this band has finally hit the truly haunting sound that they've been hinting at all along and which we all always knew was waiting to come out." - JC Hackett

"Its dreamy..." - Hotcatato

"The only thing I love more than wishing I could write sweet, dreamy indie pop is listening to a band that's incredibly good at making it themselves." - Mona

"Third time's the charm, Beach House!  I'd periodically listened to their first two releases over the last few years, almost getting to the point where I liked them, but never quite crossing the threshold.  Teen Dream grabbed my interest from the first listen, and it's really rewarding to see what this band has grown in to." - Tex

"There's a lot to titles sometimes. Beach House is probably the most ideal name for this band & "Teen Dream" perfectly describes their best album to date. Beach House's move to Sub Pop didn't change their sound much-lush indie pop set to a melancholy summer of love and heartbreak...It just boosted their recording budget to par with their awesome talent." - Luc
 
"Beach House's prettiest and most upbeat album perfectly captures that woozy late night/early morning feeling." - awmercy

Recommended track: "Zebra"

# 5

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More (February 16, 2010)

"Lyrically...unstoppable." - Robert

"Oh, Marcus Mumford.  You make me want to pick up a banjo and celebrate the myriad ways that I love you." - Mona

"Hearing them harmonize last summer at Sasquatch on a side stage at 2pm was one of the most awe inspiring things I have witnessed in quite a while... 'nough said." - Abbie

"This is my favorite album to listen to when I'm looking for inspiration." - Julia

"Fantastic album - really works wonderfully AS an album." - Anne

"This London-based quartet, whose name sounds more like a general store or cobbler shop than a band, takes their vocal harmonies and instrumentation real seriously, with nearly every track making a slow-building skyward arch until your heart is lifted and your speakers are overflowing with sound." - NightraiN

"Marcus Mumford's voice is gruff and romantic. When combined with beautiful harmonies and the strum of a banjo, it makes for perfect folksy ballads." - Brasilliant

"Perhaps too too folksy at times, but perfect if you are in the mood." - Ernesto

Recommended track: "Little Lion Man"

# 6

Vampire Weekend - Contra (January 12, 2010)

"The tragedy of Vampire Weekend is this: haters perceive them to be ivy league brats attempting to infiltrate their indie rock world. Truth is that VW are a soulful garage pop band that has managed to infiltrate & give us a glimpse the blue blood world. "Contra" is  a minor miracle in 21st century music- a perfect pop album, organically created by a rock band who is not afraid of obscurity or fame." - Luc

"I actually did not enjoy this album the first time I listened: call it a case of second child syndrome.  With further listening I realized the continued genius of this band; seriously, how many genres can one band seamlessly wrap into an album!?" - Abbie

"I would have put money on this one being a sophomore slump.  Vampire Weekend's debut album was so good, so quickly accepted by so many people of different attitudes and tastes, that it had to be a fluke.  In fact these guys are genuinely talented, and show great songwriting, production decisions, and marketing (exception being trusting that the album cover photographer had all of his release-signing ducks in a row).  I'm excited to see what's coming up next." - Tex

"Eminently listenable; infectiously fun." AnnMT

"I don't understand what this album has to do with California.  Whatever." - TheCraneWife

"I still love horchata!  The drink and the song..." - Ancient Indian Wizard
 
"Even though the lead singer creeps me out this album is hard not to like. "Holiday" is so catchy that it takes up permanent residence in your head after one listen." - Layne

"Last year, this was my most anticipated album of the year. I'm just glad it's not heading up my overrated list. Tight album. Looking forward to their junior year." - JC Hackett

Recommended track: "Horchata"

# 7

LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening (May 18, 2010)

"LCD Soundsystem takes first for me even though this is a more uneven album than my #2 because Dance Yourself Clean is one of the best dance tracks I've ever heard. It starts quiet, so you have to turn it up, then builds the suspense, then hits you with this incredible wall of sound. Just perfect. You can't play it loud enough. I Can Change is great as well. I've even come to appreciate Drunk Girls." - War Machine

"I couldn't stop listening to this album all year long.  It only gets better." - Patrick

"Not their best album - I had some high hopes - but still very good." - Julia

"I love a dance party!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And I have been known to be a drunk girl!!!!!" - Abbie

"Brutal and exposed. The guy is really finding his sound. "I Can Change" has a great spin." - JC Hackett

Recommended track: "Dance Yrself Clean"

# 8

Frightened Rabbit - The Winter Of Mixed Drinks (March 9, 2010)

"So many good songs full of manic strumming." - awmercy

"Hello old friends, so happy that you joined me this year!" - ve1cro

"Best named album of the year. The contents of this book is up to par with its cover. That almost makes no sense..." - Rain

"They make the line "are you a man or are you a bag of sand?" sound not ridiculous." - TheCraneWife

"A great album with probably the best title of the year; however, a slight drop-off from Midnight Organ Fight, which was magical." - NightraiN

"Big percussion sound and a large voice and usually some well-placed clapping... a CD to jog to but also to get ya looking inward. Their cliched lyrics and dead metaphors are somehow fresh... not quite sure how." - JC Hackett

Recommended track: "Swim Until You Can't See Land"

# 9

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (November 22, 2010)

"I know it's been said a million times now, but this really is the best album of the year." - Ben

"Pretty much all of the songs save one or two are brilliant and fantastic.  And those one or two are pretty offensive." - TheCraneWife

"Kanye is such a bitch, but fuck if I don't love all of his albums.   In my mind he's kind of like R Kelly - so crazy, so sincere about their crazy, and so good at whatever it is they're doing." - Hotcatato

 "Named to sell albums and capitalize on his scandal. Strange thing? He has the talent to back up the hype." - JC Hackett

Recommended track: "Runaway"

# 10

Jonsi - Go (April 6, 2010)

"I'm gonna quote myself here...  'Jonsi from Sigur Ros can certainly make mundane tasks feel a lot more epic...'" - Ancient Indian Wizard

"Taking the pop from the last Sigur Ros album and putting it center stage while maintaining a unique sound." - Robert

"Jonsi speaks the language of love. I always feel inspired and happy after listening." - ve1cro

"I bet you already know Jonsi is gay, but did you know that he is also blind in one eye?" - TheCraneWife

"Fans of Sigur Ros will not be disappointed by frontman Jonsi's solo efforts... In fact "Go" may earn him many new friends (fans of Passion Pit & Animal Collective listen up please). Bright, textured & propulsive "Go" is like Sigur Ros on speed... without forfeiting any of Ros' epic-ness. If that makes any sense." - Luc

Recommended track: "Go Do"