2010 albums

mackintosh braun

album of the year: a song from "where we are" pops up in my shuffle, and i'm compelled to stop and listen. more than any other album this year, "where we are" snags me every time.

spacy, but never drab and static; highly atmospheric, yet "pop"; and the processed vocals are still forefront with interesting lyrics. every track a winner. (while looking them up, take a gander at their previous album, the sound, which is sadly, no longer available on CD, but really impressive.)

also rans:


alphaville:catching rays on giant
terrific new album came out this year, catching rays on giant. who knows what that title means, but every track fits well, somewhere in alphaville's history.




brandon flowers: flamingo
early track of the year: "on the floor 2.0", flamingo. i adore this song, really wraps up an album that nicely encapsulates a man coming to terms with his inherited "faith", and the many disappointments therein. interesting concept coming from mr flowers.

daft punk: TRON

for another track of the year: "son of flynn". a minute and a half of 70's electronic nostalgia, which, when watching the (very good) movie, made me want to buy the album from my seat. (why don't theaters carry more merchandising for the "blockbuster" movies?) this album has made me reconsider my apathy toward movie soundtracks lately. starts out all moody synthesizer, and builds into big drumming action stuff. really, really good.

devo: something for everybody
they do what they do, don't they? something for everybody, a new album, released this year, and i had the chance to see them live again, so good to have them back on the list.

"fresh" is a real good single, too. how'd they luck out and get the spot to play this on NBC's olympic coverage?

the drums: the drums

you know how you can instantly spot a new order song by the bass line? the drums have something like that going on, and not in a copycat way. this is a great summer album...at first listen, it sounds all one-pattern, but continued listenings really bring out the teen angst among a warm and friendly collection of songs.




findlay brown: love will find you
came across "holding back the night" on a blog here or there, and loved the song...then i saw the album was out, so i ordered the CD. first listen, i was a little disappointed, because the songs didn't match "holding back" so much...but as each song comes up in a shuffle these days, i find myself checking my ipod to see what track is playing and who this artist is, emulating great voices of the past. i'm growing to like this album more and more and more.

i highly recommend the above.


hockey: mind chaos
an album i sincerely love, but have somehow avoided posting. this was going to be my "album of the year", but then mackintosh braun came along and stole my heart. still, hockey's album is quite good, running through various music styles in a few tracks, all tied together with the lead vocalist's gravel pit delivery (meant as a compliment).

i can't recommend this one enough. really, really wonderful.

hurts: happiness
probably my most anticipated album that actually came out this year, and definitely one of the most fulfilling. take songs by a-ha, give them the sheen of spandau ballet, performed by a duo with the charisma of pet shop boys, but attitude of depeche mode, and you have HURTS. definitely a plus that the first video for "wonderful life" was shockingly goofy; the second version a little too polished, but retaining that odd choreography style.


OMD: the history of modern
the 80's strike again, with a pioneering duo releasing new material that sounds very classic. thank you, plink-plink gods.


scissor sisters: night work
missed their live show, but love the album. i started listening to it, appreciative of their 70's pop radio leanings...but wondering, what of the 80's? and then in pop nods to devo, giorgio moroder, and even george michael.

the lead single, "fire with fire", is pretty gorgeous.

fabulous.