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Encore’s Ten Favorite Albums of 2010, So Far
We reserve the right to change our minds once the new Arcade Fire and Radiohead records are released
Not our #1, but any excuse for a picture of Joanna is a good one (Photo: DragCity.com)
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#10. Mojo by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Petty finally gave up trying to make another “Refugee” (remember Echo?), and ended up with his best album since 1994’s Wildflowers, largely thanks to the guitar playing of Mike Campbell.
Key Track: “First Flash of Freedom”
#9. American Slang by the Gaslight Anthem
Sure, they sound a lot like Born to Run-era Springsteen, but what’s wrong with that? Someone’s gotta sing about cars and old pairs of jeans.
Key Track: “American Slang”
#8. Treats by Sleigh Bells
Quite possibly the modern day Raw Power, at least in terms of noise. The mixing is cranked as high as it can go, as were the expectations thanks to months of hype from make-or-break music blogs, but the album’s mix of electropop, hip hop and sing-a-long lyrics ended up sounding exhilaratingly fresh.
Key Track: “Rill Rill”
#7. The Winter of Mixed Drinks by Frightened Rabbit
I liked the sound the Rabbit were going for with their first two albums, Sing the Greys and The Midnight Organ Fight, but something was missing. Turns out, they just needed some more time in the studio and a little polishing, and now they’ve made their first great record.
Key Track: “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”
#6. Have One on Me by Joanna Newsom
Three hours of the harp would normally be considered a punishment; not so when Joanna’s doing the plucking and singing with her increasingly Joni Mitchell-esque voice. But even Joni couldn’t write something as striking as, “And it can have no bounds, you know/It can have no end/But you can take my hand in the darkness, darling/When you need a friend” (and that song’s buried in the middle of disc two!).
Key Track: “Good Intentions Paving Company”
#5. Brothers by the Black Keys
The best blues-rock album since 2003′s Elephant.
Key Track: “Black Mud”
#4. Big Echo by the Morning Benders
I have a friend who is generally cranky about music (don’t get him started on Spoon), but in April, he sent out an e-mail saying, “Best new(ish) band I’ve heard in a while. Might be late to the party on this one, but…this is really worth listening to, good summer music.” He was referring to the Morning Benders, and he’s right (minus the Spoon bashing). If you like Grizzly Bear, you’ll like this band.
Key Track: “Wet Cement”
#3. High Violet by the National
It usually takes me a few months to really “get” a new National album; with High Violet, I understood immediately. Their sound got wilder, but lead singer Matt Berninger stayed reliably gloomy (in the July issue of Encore, I asked drummer Bryan Devendorf what he thinks of that label, but you’ll have to read the story to see his answer).
Key Track: “Bloodbuzz Ohio”
#2. Teen Dream by Beach House
With their second album, Beach House cemented their status as the second best thing to come out of Baltimore over the past 20 years. The only thing ahead of them: “When you walk through the garden/You gotta watch your back…”
Key Track: “Lover of Mine”
#1. This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
I get the feeling that Happening might switch with Teen Dream at some point, but right now, it’s my favorite album of the year. There’s something about James Murphy that seems so of its time. No clue if we’ll still be listening to them in 20 years, but in 2010, LCD Soundsystem is the sound of New York—and have been since Sound of Silver (sorry, “Empire State of Mind”).
Key Track: “All I Want”