Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 is brought to a close today with the final part of our Albums rundown.
Once you’ve been through the final part of our list, why not do us a favour and recommend your own stand-outs from 2010. Leave us a comment below telling us what has rocked your 2010 to be in with a chance of winning a selection of prizes from acts featured on our own rundown.
10: The Jim Jones Revue – Burning Your House Down
The heart-on-the-sleeve inspiration of 50s rock n roll is once again perfectly honed by The Jim Jones Revue into a raucous half an hour of irresistible, keys-led nostalgia which at the same time is unmistakably Jim Jones’ own, and that’s where the band’s real triumph lies.
9: Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Released in the US in February, what initially greets itself as another, albeit excellent, brand of modern day Americana soon opens up to reveal much more as the quietly adroit production seems to reward further listens with new layers no matter how many times the record is revisited.
8: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat The Devil’s Tattoo
Nearly a decade on from their phenomenal debut, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show no signs of running out of steam. On the contrary, while others that arrived with them in 2001 continue to twiddle their thumbs in the studio or pursue other projects, they’re pushing on and still waving the rock n’ roll flag for America.
7: Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
A concept album dealing with the American Civil War which contains a track that clocks in at over 14 minutes, and has only two tracks under five. This shouldn’t work. This should be quickly dismissed as overtly self-indulgent. Well it does work – spectacularly so. Enough said really.
6: Yeasayer – Odd Blood
Glorious, joyous and frivolous are just three simple words to describe what could be the perfect pop album. Musically, this whole album is a journey of epic goodness. ‘Odd Blood’ seems to be a natural progression, a fresh beating lease of life in a new era of pop music that is oh so close to being perfect.
5: Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
With her second Mercury nomination, Laura Marling cemented her status as one of the UK’s brightest new songwriters this year. ‘I Speak Because I Can’ harvests it’s subject matter from a wide-range of sources, and deftly combines an almost bleak atmosphere with a natural accessibility.
4: The Walkmen – Lisbon
As always, the impassioned vocals of Walkmen frontman Hamilton Leithauser and the boundless talents of drummer Matt Barrick compliment an album full of variety, from the fists-in-the-air grandeur of ‘Angela Surf City’ to the brass-led melancholy of ‘Stranded’.
3: The National – High Violet
Led by the towering single ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, it was immediately apparent The National had delivered once again. While other bands look to reinvention to remain alert, The National are able to constantly revisit their tried and tested recipe while still sounding as fresh as the day they first began.
2: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Returning with an album in it’s truest form this year, Arcade Fire re-found the inherent joy in their songwriting largely forgotten on ‘Neon Bible’, which when contrasted with their often dark subject matter, produced such outstanding results on their debut; tracks such as ‘Sprawl II’ and ‘Empty Room’ sit comfortably with anything from ‘Funeral’.
1: Band Of Skulls – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
With a physical release this year, while Band of Skulls might share the pounding drums and Mississippi Delta-inspired, sludgy guitar riffs for which the White Stripes and Black Keys are renowned, they also incorporate into their sound a good dose of British indie-pop stylings. Moreover, Band of Skulls expertly manage the difficult task of treading the fine line between edginess and accessibility.
Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums: 20-11
Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums: 30-21
3. High Violet.
Well done and well deserved!