Wolf Parade – Expo 86
30. Wolf Parade – Expo 86 (Sub Pop)
Canada’s premiere indie supergroup boasts an impressive lineup: Spencer Krug of Sunset Rubdown, Moonface, Swan Lake, and Frog Eyes; Dan Boeckner of Atlas Strategic and Handsome Furs; Dante DeCaro of Hot Hot Heat and Johnny and the Moon; and Arlen Thompson, who’s worked with Arcade Fire. The critic’s praise for and the swelling fan-base of their solo projects seemed for a while to eclipse Wolf Parade, both in popularity and sound. Expo 86 marks a change in this, proving that the tension between Krug’s and Boeckner’s creative directions hasn’t caused the band’s sound to stagnate, that they can evolve. From the very Talking Heads-y, rambling monologue on the opening “Cloud Shadow on the Mountain” to the frantic bursts and singability of closer “Cave-O-Sapien,” Expo 86 is an explosive and energetic album that proves cohesive, creating a focused and artsy fifty-six minute ride. ~ Emily Graham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC6s6axj3m0
Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
29. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding (Merge)
After nine years without a full length album, the rabid fan base of Superchunk would probably have been quite pleased with any old thing the band slapped together. It would have been praised and hailed as a return to form, though everyone would have secretly agreed it wasn’t really that great and we were wishing for something better. Lucky for us that’s just not how Superchunk works. Nothing the band does is half hearted and Majesty Shredding is another jewel in their crown. With complete honesty we can all agree it stands next to their best work, featuring the hyper speed pop hooks we recognize from On the Mouth and No Pocky for Kitty, to the finely polished songwriting and melodies of Come Pick Me Up. Nearly half the songs already feel like classics, such as the opening 1-2 punch of “Digging for Something” and “My Gap Feels Weird,” and it’s on “Crossed Wires” you realize how much we’ve missed Jon Wurster’s drumming, with those subtle accents on the ride cymbal and the rolling maelstrom leading into the final chorus. Sure his work with the Mountain Goats and AC Newman is great but it’s really with Mac, Laura, and Jim that he belongs. It goes without saying we hope we won’t have to wait another 9 years but if the results are this outstanding, this will surely tide us over. ~ Matthew Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHcxZz5P130
Menomena – Mines
28. Menomena – Mines (Barsuk)
After two full-length albums full of surprises, it’s hard to imagine what Menomena would do with Mines. Do they stick to the same formula and try to surprise once again even after we think we know all their tricks? That’s exactly what they did. As it turns out, everyone realized that their tricks weren’t actually tricks at all, but only a small part of what makes a consistent good band release a great album. The time since Friend & Foe wasn’t short, but it was well used. The intense care put into every piece of music in Mines is the varnish over the paint on songs that could only exist through Menomena. Maybe the paint is a little less bright this time around, but the scheme works better than ever. You have to grow up sometime, and Mines will make you realize that in a good hour. ~ Nick Bush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDbZxBrR9zQ
Minus the Bear – OMNI
27. Minus the Bear – OMNI (Dangerbird)
Anticipation for this album started building last fall with the early release of “Into the Mirror” and b-side “Broken China”, and in March the world wide web of blogs could barely contain its excitement when the band released “My Time”. OMNI exploded in May with a double rainbow of color and creativity that expands the band’s range to a new level. “My Time” specifically is an experiment of sound with synthesizers, guitarist Dave Knudson’s characteristic guitar tapping and looping, and the appealing sounds of an omnichord. There are fewer lulls and less jamming than 2007′s Planet of Ice, and there’s way more melody instead. A higher degree of pop influence is evident on the album, especially on “Summer Angel”, which may or may not remind of you of teenagers falling in love in the warmth of summer. This mainstream agreeability may not have gotten them on the corresponding airwaves, but it sent Minus the Bear to festivals across the world this summer. Anyone who listens to the album can tell Minus the Bear enjoyed creating this album, but more importantly OMNI is hugely fun to listen to. ~ Adam Matthews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36XnnyWMI5w
Ben Folds – Lonely Avenue
26. Ben Folds – Lonely Avenue (Nonesuch)
Ben Folds’ newest opus marks the first time he’s shared the creative spotlight – even the official title bills it as Ben Folds Adds Music and Melody to Nick Hornby’s Words. Just like Elton John and Bernie Taupin in the 70s, this partnership has lead to some wonderful songs. Lonely Avenue maintains his brilliance of effortlessly juxtaposing tones, melodies and [im]maturity. The opener, “A Working Day,” announces how awesome Folds is while also saying that he sucks. “Levi Johnston’s Blues” satirizes the Palin family with his trademark mix of catchy hooks and funny lyrics. It’s another classic.
Combining poignant lyrics with beautiful melodies is what Folds does best, and he crafts another gem with “Claire’s Ninth.” Folds once again pulls at our heartstrings and invades our memory with the same level of affectivity as masterpieces like “Prison Food” and “Fred Jones, pt. 2.” Nearly every song on Lonely Avenue is great, and the fact that it’s one of his weakest efforts only goes to show just how great the other ones are. Full of lush arrangements and biting humor, this album continues to prove that Folds is possibly the greatest American songwriter around today. ~ Jordan Blum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5peqCDJi0A&feature=fvw
She & Him – Volume Two
25. She & Him – Volume Two (Merge)
It does not take much else to get people interested in a musical project than mentioning M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel in the same sentence. She & Him is the indie-pop super duo consisting of these two notable songwriters that have been winning over crowds, young and old, over the past four years and counting. Their second record titled simply, Volume Two is the 2010 follow up to Volume One released two years earlier. Deschanel is a brilliant pop songwriter, taking influence from classic artists like Brian Wilson and Buddy Holly and keeping alive that 50s/60s sound in her own way. With the help of Ward, who lends supportive instrumentation and production, the group is an unstoppable collaboration of spirit and grace. Songs like “Thieves” and their first single, “In the Sun,” wonderfully represent the growth in writing and arrangement and only gives insight to what is to come. The duo seems to have no intentions of slowing down and any time there is a break from acting or working on solo projects, they’ll be found demoing new material in the studio. We can only wait in anticipation for the tentative Volume Three. ~ Ryan Egan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3cTwI9bIw
Sleigh Bells – Treats
24. Sleigh Bells – Treats (Mom & Pop Music)
Among the loudest records for the year, Sleigh Bells pulls off a really great and disgusting sound. Although song distortion is nothing new, few can do it well. Treats came along this year and added a tally mark for the few. With only a handful of demos to draw on before the unveiling of Treats, I expected good things. However, what I received were amazing songs for a record I didn’t think would sound consistent. Oddly enough, the loud, “Crown on the Ground” and the sweet, “Rill Rill” make for a wonderfully spiteful pair. The two sounds move parallel through the record working out most times and keeping the record functional and predictable. You’ll know what’s coming and you wont be mad about it. This album is a good indication of creativity through instrumentation manipulation and loud feedback that wouldn’t normally work together with such cohesive cleverness and yet it flourishes. Treats is a record to try on a few times and more than likely it will eventually fit. ~ Ashley Saupp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgbN9mWCLcs
Julie Christmas – The Bad Wife
23. Julie Christmas – The Bad Wife (Rising Pulse)
After the incredible work Julie Christmas has done with previous projects she has been involved with (Made Out of Babies, Battle of Mice, et al.), we have finally been graced with her debut solo album, The Bad Wife. First of all, Julie Christmas has an incredible range and an unbelievably emotive voice. She could sing you the phone book and it would hold your interest from start to finish. Now, apply the aforementioned vocal prowess to something that this songstress actually gives a rat’s ass about, and you’ll start to get the picture of how incredible this album is. In addition to Ms. Christmas’ deftly weaving a lyrical spell about you, throw in the instrumental contributions of artists such as John LaMacchia (Candiria, Spylacopa), members of Made Out Of Babies, Mel Lederman (Victory at Sea) and others including Joe Tomino (Dub Trio), Oddity, Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Tom Waits) and more. All of these elements come together in an intriguing, complex, and often times surprising way, while retaining a level of expressiveness and intimacy that will be tough to top. ~ Kyle O’Donnell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG0vr0fXjlc
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
22. Deftones – Diamond Eyes (Reprise)
Rock doesn’t have to be a dirty word in 2010. Deftones have created an album that is accessible without losing its anticipation. Their trademark heavy and crushing cuts (opener “Diamond Eyes,” “This Place Is Death,” etc.) found the record, but the spacial interludes (“Beauty School” and “Sextape”) are beautiful and haunting additions. Guitars may hold the weight of an army in their Meshuggah-made chugs, but all is drenched in a melodic spell. Diamond Eyes is transcendent of single genre allowances. The riff-blasting screaming single “Rocket Skates” best recalls their aggressive beginnings. They’re not re-gifting them though, they’re reimagining them altogether. Speaking of forward, digest Chino Moreno’s sexual assault on “You’ve Seen The Butcher”: “Don’t wanna take it slow / I wanna take you home / and watch the world explode / from underneath your clothes.” And that’s probably a fair explanation on why both the band and their oldest fans have celebrated new material (instead of making it another dirty word). ~ Brian Kraus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qksTlo_1Tpw
Vampire Weekend – Contra
21. Vampire Weekend – Contra (XL Recordings)
With alternating waves of adulation and abhorrence, the most literate group of post-collegiates in popular music had lofty expectations to live up to as they prepped their sophomore album for a January 2010 release. Lead single “Horchata” – in which singer Ezra Koenig rhymes the titular word with both balaclava and Aranciata – had hit the Web months early and was already drawing comparisons to past VW hits like “Oxford Comma.” Yet when stacked against the group’s 2008 self-titled debut, Contra finds these Columbia University friends expounding on a sound that was already remarkably cultured. The frenetic “Cousins” brought some punky exuberance to the proceedings, and the sanguine sugar rush of “Holiday” demonstrated that the band was still happy to oblige diehards who were there back when “Mansard Roof” was just an Internet phenomenon. Still, it’s the tracks infused with dancehall electronics and club beats that pack the biggest punch here; drums, bass, and synth textures dominate tunes like “Run” and “Giving Up the Gun,” ensuring that fans would be able to dance with wild abandon while also trying to determine exactly what Koenig means when he sings, “Your Tokugawa smile / and your garbage style / used to save the night.” ~ Adam Costa
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