Top Ten Albums of 2010

1. The National - High Violet

The National spent far too long on the peripheries, gaining their widest exposure with 'Boxer' back in 2007, but it's taken High Violet to push them into the mainstream completely. Ohio Bloodbuzz also claims my best single top spot too by virtue of being a simply brilliant slice of bitter sweet love pop. The gloom and laconic humour combine perfectly here to finally bring these guys the plaudits they've deserved for years.



2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

After a build of extraordinary anticipation (in my head at least) Montreal's greatest exponents revealed another beautiful slow burner of an album. They have an awful lot to live up to musically and The Suburbs saw them touch on those magic moments from Funeral and Neon Bible once again.



3. Salem - King Night

Okay so that's mainstream well and truly covered. Salem take third place due to the perverse music they make, the weird shit they say, the way they're seemingly so anti band sometimes and yet manage to create stunningly original tunes with a dark centre. Witch-core is the worst descriptive term ever but they have a black voodoo in their hearts and this time next year they'll either be dead or lauded as Gods.



4. These New Puritans - Hidden

Just like Salem, These New Puritans don't give a flying fuck about scenes, what's hot or not, they just rip music a new asshole and pile up the tunes laden with Taiko drums and Samurai blades clashing over haunted vocals. Rumbling echoes in the darkness. This album creeps you out and draws you close simultaneously. Remarkable. The most exciting new band of 2010 without doubt.



5. Liars - Sisterworld

From newcomers to established old hands (sort of) Liars have been around for a decade anyway and with Sisterworld they smoothed out the uncomfortable sounds of earlier albums to deliver an abrasive album you could still cosy up to. Just be wary of the knife behind their back.



6. Glasser - Ring

A sparkling debut from Cameron Mesirow in the Fever Ray, Florence Welsh, Bat For Lashes vain, i.e. stunning vocals, weird visuals, thrilling sounds. It may struggle to maintain it's own high standards throughout but as a debut album it showcases her innumerable talents and points the way to greater things to follow. She's also on True Panther Sounds the coolest label anywhere right now.



7. Jonsi - Go

Stepping out from the shadow of epic tunesmiths Sigur Ros, Jonsi benched his dreamy, mysterious vocals and opened up a bit, singing more clearly on his newest songs. He took the album on tour with a visual/audio extravaganza, dressed as a native American Indian, looked like he was having the best time of his life and pulled (No. 6) Glasser along for some of the ride. This is sublime pop music despite the artsy context and the songs from 'Go' stack up very well against anything his revered back catalogue might muster.



8. Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be

Girl rawk made a return this year - it probably never went away - and Dum Dum Girls brought some of that nostalgia for 'chicks' and guitars (Runaways, Raincoats) and the 60's girl groups with the Spector sound - particularly The Ronnettes. But 'I Will Be' is about as far from a cliche as it's possible to be, this album upped the ante with bitchy and ballsy songs in full effect. Essentially a solo project expanded to play live Kirsten Gundred aka Dee Dee Penny kicked monumental ass on stage and on record. Bow down fey indie boys and worship.



9. Effi Briest - Rhizomes

By virtue of being completely uncategorisable in any genre Effi Briest make the top ten with their debut album. They're pop, they're rock and they're weird, in the best possible sense. The only way to know what the fuck they're like is to listen to Rhizomes, a lot. It's a remarkably rewarding experience.



10. School of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire

From the ashes of former dream-electronica outfits On! Air! Library! and Secret Machines this trio of twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and Ben Curtis shine on 'Disconnect From Desire', their second album. It coalesces the promise of their debut into a more direct set of songs with actual radio play hit potential. Unusual and unorthodox but ethereally beautiful too.

Honorable mentions: Shearwater - The Golden Archipelago, Errors - Come Down With Me, Beach House - Teen Dream, LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening, Gayngs - Relayted, Zola Jesus - Stridulum II.

The National - High Violet

As a fellow beard wearer I can empathize with Matt Berninger's ponderous, whisker-stroking take on life, love and all likely absurdities in between. And whilst it's also true that I was a bit late to worship at the The National alter (previous album The Boxer being my personal introduction!) I've since immersed myself fully in the bands back catalogue and can rightfully claim that High Violet is where cult following and critical acclaim will take a back seat to TV fame, radio airplay and bigger touring venues.

Not that this 'material' stuff might mean too much, but they are the deserved rewards of producing an album like 'High Violet' that touches on familiar beguiling, atmospheric folk moments but that also bites back in places with a fervour and glee that sets the band up for all the accolades due to come their way.

And while Berninger's doleful vocals chime at the forefront it's still the skittering drumming of Bryan Devendorf which gels the whole thing together - perhaps the most compelling drummer around right now (I'd say). In isololation The National's parts may not possess the drama and vigour of the whole but it's on High Violet that this whole excells itself finally.

Lead single 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' is possessed of a simmering energy which seemingly doesn't know whether to fuck or fight whereas 'Terrible Love' and 'Conversation 16' probably deal with weightier themes but feel less likely to pull you under as the band wallow in their collective despair.

If this sounds a bit dreary and portentous and not at all uplifting then you should maybe take some time to listen to the album yourself as at some point during High Violet's 50 minutes it is all of these things and much more, including wry humour and sarcastic asides aplenty. Trust me they now hold the spot as album of the year contenders - without doubt!

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