Top Albums 2010

I first heard “Intervales Theme” on a WPTS broadcast in Pittsburgh. With the city blinking out of its eyes the sleep of a long winter, the song seemed to give shape to the freshness of a new season. I was compelled to pick up the album as soon as it was released, after which point it became the soundtrack for my spring and summer. The disc is characterized by the same optimism and distant sense of longing as that first song that I heard – memories filtered through sun-bright days at the beach or the park with friends.
Now that I live in San Francisco, I miss the hibernation of winter and the deep breath the entire world takes when spring arrives – but this album will always remind me of that feeling of warmth and possibility.

Highlights: Intervales Theme, On It On It, Off My Mind

I thought pretty hard about whether to include Phantogram here, but the bright spots are irrefutable. One of the first albums I acquired after moving to San Francisco, it seems to capture the wistfulness I experienced in leaving behind the familiarity and security of home. Phantogram combines with ease an ear for catchy melancholy melodies (like those of The Xx) with the textural trip-hop popularized by Massive Attack.

Highlights: Mouthful of Diamonds, As Far As I Can See, Bloody Palms

I caught Inception fever this summer, resulting in my first soundtrack purchase since I was in, like, the eighth grade. Soundtracks are always most effective when, upon listening, they transport you back to the same places that the movie showed you. The Inception soundtrack takes this to the max, with a simple (and thus very memorable) two-note theme and the clever use of Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.” In addition to reminding you of the fantastic places its movie takes you, a great soundtrack also makes you feel the associated emotions – this album is both painful in its tenderness and towering at its epic best.

Highlights: Time, 528491, Dream Is Collapsing

I’m the kind of Underworld fan that prefers A Hundred Days Off to their earlier work, but Barking is an interesting amalgamation of both (and thankfully, nothing longer than seven minutes). I like the general sense of optimism, and the video for “Always Loved A Film” is representative, for me, of the entire album – the feeling that we are all to some extent ageless, that there is always some vibrancy in us our entire lives.

Highlights: Always Loved A Film, Hamburg Hotel, Moon in Water

Despite some of the songs containing vocals bearing a strong resemblance to Passion Pit (I’m looking at you, “You’re My Excuse To Travel”), Cerulean is full of solid beats, glitches and dreamy-eyed reflection. When it’s a rainy day and you need a little lift, this is a good album to put on.

Highlights: Lovely Bloodflow, Aminals, Hall

The best thing about the Black Keys is that they bring the rock and they bring the blues. The raw soulfulness of their music and the authenticity they bring to their work and sound sets them shoulders above most.

Highlights: Sinister Kid, Ten Cent Pistol