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Top 10 Albums of 2010

• 24th Dec 2010

The 2009 British music scene left us excited and, quite frankly, worn out by the quantity of new talent, with endless amounts of creativity. So, following on from the surprise of Joe McElderry’s failed attempt to carry the X Factor Number 1 tradition, we hoped 2010 would bring edge, sass and originality, but it seems to be unshared by last years exciting new talents and hot comebacks: Florence & the Machine, Lady Gaga, Lily Allen, The Prodigy, Black Eyed Peas and even JLS gave a bit more compared to this years contenders. Even with so many irritants (yes, that means you Jedward) and the tabloid pantomime villain that is (Wagner), there are still artists that should be saved from the rubble. Casting an eye back over the previous twelve months, here then are my top 10 albums of 2010:

10. Vampire Weekend – Contra

After the hugely popular success A Punk brought, Vampire Weekend return with second album, Contra and still with that little bit more sparkle than the rest of the cliché, drain pipe jeans, Converse wearing indie bands. Contra really does give a spin onto the narrow market that is ‘Indie’, so what makes Vampire Weekend different from its peers?

Well it’s the idiosyncratic culture their front man, Ezra Koenig processes. His environment has influenced the music he writes and produces. The album being heavily influenced by the 80’s, produces highly eccentric, dreamlike songs that Mario and his crew would love! They are perfect for the stoners or the gamers of society. Don’t get me wrong, when you first listen, there weirdness and wackiness is hard to digest, however after a few listens, the music convinces you it’s worth your time.

What I love about the whole album is that it is an orgy of quirky guitar rifts, glockenspiel chimes and electronically driven vocal harmonies. First single ‘Cousins’, a sheer delight; on first listen, the sharp twang of instruments sounds like a mess but the fast paced rhythm the songs have, makes the most rigid dancers get into groove.

9. One Night Only – One Night Only

If there was a playground for bands with different year groups, One Night Only would be the naughty year one’s that get intimidated when they meet older bands. Nevertheless, their second bullet, fired in the industry, has given the most cynical critics a stinging slap as now; they’re not those little boys with grubby knees. They’re all shaven and don’t need their mum to pick their clothes for them. When George Craig is back from the Burberry’s catwalk, they create an unsuspected record.

Their first single and album opener, ‘Say You Don’t Want It’, is amazing, and the quite startling guitar rifts captivate even the deaf. The feeling you get listening to the song, mirrors the lyrics and title. It’s the electrifying moment of when you meet someone new and it’s exciting to see how it unfolds. ‘Chemistry’, the presumed second single, dips its toes into ‘When You Were Young’ waters; the gut clenching howls Craig produces, makes a simple, yet effective song that B. Flowers would be proud of. ‘All I Want’, is truly heart warming; they weren’t even born in the 80’s, nevertheless they make a song perfect for that era.

This album is special because even if you tried to compare them to the likes of Arcade Fire or Battles, remember this… That is not what they’re trying to achieve. It has provided them with a future as they are only in their youthful, twenty something’s, so they will have the time to ‘cut the fat off’ and refine their work, unlike their ageing competitors. It might not engage or enthral everyone but their work shouldn’t be sneered at, it should be used a stepping stone for One Night Only to evolve into an established, well respected band.

8. Taylor Swift – Speak Now

Still recovering from the success ‘Fearless’ brought her, Taylor Swift and her third album, ‘Speak Now’, don’t beat ‘Fearless’, but it won’t be forgotten in the wake, left by it. Her albums make Swift act like every ones elder sister, but talks to you directly. You don’t just hear her unique singing voice, but her political say to every subject she writes about. This is probably because her songs are the ripped out pages of her obviously thick, worn, diary.

The album begins with ‘Mine’. A sketch about seeing the future with someone she likes. Her so innocent and childlike approach to sensitive and complicated subject, really helps teenagers get their priorities right. Other songs including ‘Sparks Fly’ really stand out on this album. Mostly because it shows glimmers of a future Shania Twain, and we all know, ‘Come on Over’ is every ones guilty pleasure in their record collection. ‘Better Than Revenge’ is quite an edgy song for this country girl. The first line of lyrics to the song is: ‘…Now go stand in the corner, and think about what you just did…’, is kinky, domineering attitude is quite the opposite you’d assume Taylor is like. This alternate country rock has a ‘Misery Business’ feel to it. But, one song that radiated success and the flagship of this album is ‘Enchanted´. This song is absolutely brilliant! Swifts understated, pixie, voice sets the scene for a great song. The record is the type of song you’d hear in a film starring Ann Hathaway, where her ‘Prince’ comes to her house late in the night, where they passionately kiss on the step at the front door and confess their unspoken love for each other. She conveys this sense of love in fairytales, effortlessly.

This is one of the many reasons why I love her. She helps banish the teenage stereotype of being the next ‘Jack the Ripper’, and is an amazing role model for youth today. Swift and ‘Speak Now’, targets every generation because of the song topics: your first heartbreak, utter lust for someone or rejoicing in your first, genuine love! Hopefully this album will be the catalyst that gets everyone captivated and enchanted by Taylor Swift and might be able to reach out to the people that haven’t yet been touched by her magic.

7. N.E.R.D – Nothing

When it was announced Pharrell and his N.E.R.D’s, were releasing their fourth album, it raised more than a few eyebrows, with the amount of times they’ve misfired with their ‘direction’ for that album. They have already been called a RUN DMC rip off! However, don’t let the title, ‘Nothing’ fool you, as it’s brimming with cleverly crafted songs that merge disco heaven with upbeat, dance party favourites. Fusing silky, sensual, smooth classics with rock/rap anthems and still storming a mischievous, cheeky tone that attracts the most daring listeners.

Track one, ‘Party People’ is a distant relative to ‘Saturday Night Fever’ by the Bee Gee’s, because of the strong abundance of archaic 70’s-80’s party tunes but with a modern spin. The marriage of brass band and electro beats fuses a vibe that gets everyone in the mood for a good night. N.E.R.D radiate coolness, flair, stylishness and absolute sexiness. All found on the last track ‘Nothing On You’; the vintage pop song, fuels your temptation to grab the first person you see and make passionate, mean less sex in any location, at any time. This is obviously, a great song.

Even though, N.E.R.D will not cause uproar of praise, they have done what was required. Come back with album four, with a different sound that provides the fans with what they want: sexually-driven club rompers whilst delivering your conscious nice but naughty melodies, that is virgin to this experience. Well, I suppose that’s down to Pharrell and his ways.

6. Kanye West – My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy

After recovering from the embarrassment that the 2009 VMA’s inflicted on him, one of the most highly anticipated album come backs was from Kanye West. This album sees him suited up with no teddy bear or his iconic shutter shades. With those comforts gone, we can see what the man behind the glasses is actually like. Not the person he ‘wants’ us to see.

In his time of rehabilitation, we see West’s material back to the bare basics with a sharp edge. A lot of West’s previous work has been ignorantly stunning, however, due to the amount of sentiment conveyed on this album, for once, West seems to show warmth and compassion; he’s letting go of these emotions that torture him. On the album the songs highlight who Kanye West is now and what the future should bring.

Although they’re many good songs on the record, ‘Runaway’, is the song of the album. It’s a naked, raw, expressive rendition of the emotional meltdowns West suffered and ponders why he has become such a ‘douche bag’. With lyrics like; ‘…I send this girl a picture of my dick’, or ‘…24/7, 365, pussy stays on my mind’, listeners would be shocked by the explicitly however, he weirdly makes it emotionally endearing because it captivates you due to the hypnotically harrowing and spine chilling chimes of the piano.

I don’t think we’ll have another album like this because no-one has the balls to try it. Even though he’s never been one to stick by ‘the rules’, now he seems to be inventing his own. You’ve got to be half insane to release this type of album!

‘My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy’, is a significant time in West’s profession, even though this is one of the musical peaks he’ll experience, he will never have the same inspiration and drive again. I think it’s time that even the most strictest Swift fans forgive what he did because he’s understood his mistake and expressed them in his songs. This album does exactly what it says on the tin; it’s beautifully dark and twisted in everyway, and not only sets an outstanding contribution to modern music, but will be an album used for admiration and inspiration.

5. Rihanna – Loud

Even though it was only released mid-November, Rihanna and her new album ‘Loud’, have made a lasting impression on the dwindling hours remaining in 2010. Now on her fifth album and counting, the flamed haired siren is gaining greater momentum than she ever did before. While her previous album ‘Rated R’ had more of a ‘Hard’ approach, (I hope you got the pun there, ‘Loud’ is much more light hearted, colourful and projects bucket loads of character, without losing the edge that Rihanna craves.

First up on the album is the track ‘S&M’, an indicator for what the album has in store for listeners. The song is sexy, sassy and sultry all in one go, yet it remains tasteful, and with dignity too. It doesn’t mess around to tease and seduce you into believing that; ‘…chains and whips’, excite this dominatrix. The playful visual and graphic images you get are open for interpretation; this song, clearly, is one for the boys!

Loud is acutely culturally aware of Rihanna’s Barbadian origins, as there is an obvious influence in Reggae groves, shown in ‘Man Down’ and ‘What’s My Name?’ Which she recently performed on X Factor, the bajan beauty and her suspected ex-paramour Drake, both portray a flirtatious and mischievous atmosphere, we like to see in Rihanna.

In addition, one of the unforgettable charms on the album is ‘Only Girl (In the World)’. It doesn’t take long before the sunny, powerful dance anthem hypnotises you with those flashing, electrifying and infectious euro-beats before it erupts into something phenomenal. Even with the success ‘Only Girl’ brought, one song that makes this album worth your £7.99 is the continuation of ‘Love the Way You Lie’. ‘Part II’, is much more of an intimate, deep and vulnerable but still doesn’t lose the icy winds Eminem provides, as now he, is the one featured. Arguably better than the first, ‘Part II’, is the best way to finish ‘Loud’ because it shows, she hasn’t really forgotten the past that has shaped her today.

Why I love this album and Rihanna is because of distinctive and constant demand to change her image and proven time and again she can craft a variety of song types. She can make booming club marvels, to bitterly painful ballads, to warm blossoming amours. Let’s hope that the next album she makes, she shape shifts once more because it makes her the most interesting international artist ever!

4. The xx – xx

The xx and their creative, original album name, ‘xx’, is a fresh alternative sound, and an offers an alternative to what suffocates the charts today. Moreover, these don’t need to be formulaic in nature to be recognised, as the catalyst forming a new wake in music. The calm and chilled atmosphere the album projects, is exactly the type of music you are likely to find in a Channel 4 documentary about childhood poverty. It’s the perfect album that helps you drift off to sleep, but these aren’t just the qualities the album acquires.

Firstly, it takes you into this cosmic, extraterrestrial world that no other album has achieved before. The tone is wistful, and acoustically has that ability to draw in the listener via softer pencil touches, rather than harsh brushstrokes. This is the motif throughout the album. The minimalistic effect is extraordinary, because its subtle, abiding impression, is better to listen to, rather than a loud, hyperactive ten year old, who obviously drank too many cans of coke, throwing paint everywhere and causing havoc to already damaged British Music. What has happened to music like The xx? It seems to get trampled on by the storm Justin Bieber, Tinchy Stryder and similar competition bring.

What I think makes this album special is that, thematically, it slots neatly into the era of identity crisis that fans of Twilight and Vampires in general, can identify with. It is what the current generation of teenagers obsess the most about, (after Bieber fever, of course). Much like the vampires feel, songs such as ‘Infinity’ and ‘Stars’ are oddly sexy, and abnormally arousing, probably because of the mystical, smoky voice both singers have. Inserting some folksy material on ‘Crystallised’ and ‘Islands’, further helps tick all of the boxes for versatility and originality. Even though being released in 2009, it’s only now they’re getting the recognition they’re obviously worth. Back from winning the Mercury Price, The xx are spitting embers of success into the faces of anyone blocking their path.

3. Plan B – The Defamation of Strickland Banks

Third place is the most unlikely ‘soul man’ that has attracted the ears of everyone across the country. Plan B or Ben Drew is probably most famous for being the moody teenager in that court room with the jury clicking along with the music. Well, you’ll be right, but this album isn’t all foot-tapping, head bobbing music. Drew has seemingly left his teenage tantrums and frustrations in his last album where he over done the British Eminem vibe. But we’re glad that he has calmed down and realised what makes a good album.

‘Strickland’ is an unusual album because it’s an narrative, first hand perspective of the sketch Drew portrays in Strickland Banks. The introduction of the album is quite a contradiction of his past work and the rest of the album. It shows more of a softer, delicate, smoother side to the irritated, pubescent teenager shown in his debut album. The two songs are both compassionate love songs that is a serene gate-opener for the rest of the record. So after the love songs, is what Drew does best, is the combination of his soulful voice mixed with his gritty, Skin’s party rapping that delivers a song packed with knock out punch.

‘Prayin’’, is the song you put on first when your listening to the album on your iPod, because it’s passionate thrill and engages the listener by hypnotising you with the mellow tone and variety of different instruments, used to protest his innocence and incarceration in the video. Ironic really, how even though the story of the album is about his abuse, isolation and lunacy that Strickland left him, it is still not as aggressively driven as album one.

Defamation is a great little album which could drive Drew towards being one of the best and biggest males in the business today. He is better off known for delivering a successful second album than a flaccid debut. What I like about it is that it relates to many people, who don’t have a ‘golden spoon’ upbringing and that turn their hobbies into worthy talent, that gets the misunderstood of society, more driven and ambitious. Plan B is a positive representation of this and hopefully inspires many others because the way he’s going, it’s not as bleak as the lifestyle he ‘could’ have lived.

2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Lately, it seems that there is a sudden burst of folksy music that slips into the music heavyweight minefield unnoticed. Without this surprising influx of popularity, the most talented musicians get left behind and settle with unworthy chart positions. Arcade Fire, are an exception to this. Although they’re surfing the folk tsunami, they are dignified with positions that get them recognised, which they’re worthy of. After enjoying a week at the top of the UK Album chart, will Arcade Fire disappear and does the album provide substance?

Yes it does, and very much so. ‘The Suburbs’ is a collection of different sounds varying from twang of guitars versus, sharp guitar rifts. The gentle punk rock feel to the album is a time machine, taking you back to ‘Ziggy Stardust’ era. Though it’s not Glam Rock, covered in white cat suits and hairspray, it’s the whisky your Grandad has stored for years and only gets out for special occasions. It’s an odd record because it sounds earthy and not edited or mixed to create a better effect; it does that without the auto tuning. It’s as if they just recorded it in the BBC Live Lounge.

The structure of the album is cyclical, staring with ‘The Suburbs’ and ending with the continued version of it. It feels like you’re on a journey, through what and who Arcade Fire are. There is not one fault on the album, it’s just mainly praise. ‘Half Light I/II’ are both two of the best on the CD. The half dead, subconscious feel to the song sounds like its fuelling restoration to the dead. The constant waves make tension that are metaphorically moving and progressing, due to the collaboration of instruments that create dark, yet smooth music and make your feet tap and hands clap uncontrollably. So when the song reaches its climax half way through the songs it’s a downright bliss to listen to. ‘Modern Man’ and ‘Month of May’ I favour most because these vintage tracks really make apparent who their influences are: The Stogges, Bowie, Depeche Mode, and Springsteen. They’re also the type of songs that you’d hear at festivals, and be the best memories whenever you hear Arcade Fire again.

What I enjoyed about ‘The Suburbs’ is how even though there is huge competition in this market currently, Arcade Fire do seem to be unaffected by this. They seem to be comfortable making music that they, listeners, fans and critics all take pleasure from. Although, they came in second, I still strongly believe that in the rise and fall of mainstream folk music, they shall be one of the few left standing.

1. Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

Okay, I know it was released last year but I couldn’t care. What an amazing album! Mumford & Sons are the catalyst for reviving indie, folk music back into the ears of folk music virgins. The debut album of the band, ‘Sigh No More’, shows glimmers to rival folk legend Bruce Springsteen.

The title track ‘Sigh No More’ is one that beacons the album. It sounds like the noises made from an altar of an abandoned church. As the songs progresses, the empty spaces of the church are filled with the local congregation. The gritty, authenticity sound, made from second hand trumpets, crashes and banjos, doesn’t leave the album now. The sharp injection of beautiful noises develops to become more captivating and empowering.

The album takes you through the hurricane of contemporary folk music and paints a panoramic scene, ideal for a hiking expedition ad for the Lake District. ‘I Gave You All’ is one of the album emeralds; this songs gives the album and edge over competitors such as Kings of Leon and Arcade Fire due to the unapologetic and potent fury of that Marcus Mumford portrays. The howling emotional pain found in his voice because a spiteful romance or an old flame, that hasn’t truly been extinguished. Let the dogs of hell attempt to tame this vendetta he’s got.

It’s strange to think that this amazing album was so unrecognised, and finally, it’s getting the acknowledgement that it truly deserves. The four piece which make Mumford & Sons should be prepared for a future fulfilled with success and longevity, as this album is an exceptional pin-up of where the future of British music should be going, making this the album of 2010!

So we say farewell to this year and it’ll be in a couple of months, we’ll be back here, reviewing and discussing the music that makes 2011. Hopefully next year, we’ll be talking about Rebecca Fergusons album. Until then, we must wait in anticipation. With releases from the most established and talented musicians, next year will be epic for music lovers worldwide!