Acclaimed releases from Paul Weller, Villagers and Beach House all feature in the third part of Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums.
Once you’ve been through this 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.
20: Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
West Palm Beach’s Surfer Blood have shown an invention in their songwriting which has been sadly missing from the majority of the UK’s own indie output this year.
19: Badly Drawn Boy – It’s What I’m Thinking Pt. 1…
With the familiar heart-felt, personal lyrics, understated delivery and knack of great melody all present and correct, 2010 welcomed back one of the brightest British talents of the past decade.
18: The Coral – Butterfly House
Lesser bands would have struggled to recover from the departure of such an influential member as Bill Ryder-Jones. Not The Coral, who instead returned with an album to finally rival their classic debut.
17: Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation
When Paul Weller has something to get off his chest, he’s a force of nature that’s hard to resist, and this call to arms for the British public signalled his best solo album since ‘Stanley Road’.
16: Stornoway – Beachcomber’s Windowsill
A laidback, tranquil record which became the perfect soundtrack to those soaking up an unusually sun-drenched UK summer festival season.
15: Holy Fuck – Latin
By slightly scaling back the layers while still striving for constant experimentation Holy Fuck treated 2010 to the best album of their career.
14: The Dead Weather – Sea Of Cowards
The magnificence of this album lies in the ability to give many listens without any of the songs tiring and, if anything, humming all of the songs in concession even hours after you’ve put the record away
13: Beach House – Teen Dream
The songs are enigmatic, spiritual and boldly original. The closest thing to a comparison might be Scott Walker remaking ‘Pet Sounds‘ with a little gospel help from Washington Phillips.
12: Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
Domino is a good place to look for best new talent, and with a maturity that makes a mockery of his tender years, Conor O’Brien proved to be one of the brightest with his brilliant first album.
11: Mystery Jets – Serotonin
With the demise of Supergrass, Mystery Jets provide their own take on the art of the ‘indie pop’ song, but fill the Oxford boys shoes quite comfortably, if not from a point of slight inferiority.
Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums: 30-21
Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums: 40-31
Live4ever’s Essential Listening 2010 – The Albums: 50-41
