Best of 2010

Albums

1. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening

It’s the final chapter of an epic trilogy of albums. Return of the Jedi, anyone? Frontman James Murphy has stated that it is also the group’s last. They played, one of, if not THE, best live show I’ve ever seen over the summer. To put it into perspective, The Roots, who I saw in the same venue in Montreal a few months later, were dreadful by comparison. It was flawless, including their brief rendition of Jay Z’s “Empire State of Mind” in the middle of “New York, I Love You.” This album, though incredible, only edged out Kanye by virtue of it’s standing as the third and, clearly, most mature album by the group. If, however, James Murphy decides to pull a George Lucas on us I’m reserving the right to retroactively bump my number 2 album of 2010 to number 1.

2. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

As Zero Punctuation so eloquently put it, “Sometimes things are popular for a reason. Because they’re good. Or because Will Smith is in it.” To really put it into perspective, Chris “Gin Fillings” Billings, who wouldn’t be able to pick Kanye out of a lineup consisting of Ye, Jay Z, Drake, Andre 3000, and Diddy, said, and I quote, “Even I like the new Kanye.”

Have you seen the video for “Power”? “ITS NOT A VIDEO, ITS A MOVING PAINTING” twats Kanye. And he’s right. The cultural and symbolic references are myriad, the sword of Damocles hanging above Ye’s head the entire time being my personal favourite. And then there’s the 35 minute movie-video “Runaway.” Directed by West it draws inspiration from Purple Rain, Thriller, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Matisse, Picasso, Kubrick and Lagerfeld. While it falls flat at times, notably when Kanye has any lines whatsoever, it works as a whole.

And lets not forget his GOOD Friday releases, where he dropped a track each week for months. Some of which didn’t make it to the album despite being solid enough to count amongst my favourite singles of the year.

Someone actually told me “I don’t like him. I’m not going to listen to his new album because he was so rude to [that girl on that award show.].” Now don’t get me wrong. His lyrics could be better, his Tweets are laughable, and he’s clearly insane. Say what you will about his public persona, the man put out an album so fine that even Gin Fillings can appreciate. And he only likes Thrice.

3. Sleigh Bells – Treat

4. The National – High Violet

5. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

6. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

7. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles

8. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

9. Beach House – Teen Dream

10. Hot Chip – One Life Stand

11. Black Keys – Brothers

12. Woodhands - Remorsecapade

13. Women – Public Strain

14. Gayngs – Relayted

15. Das Racist – Sit Down, Man

16. Janelle Monáe – The Archandroid

17. Caribou – Swim

18. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

19. Gil Scott Heron – I’m New Here

20. Best Coast – Crazy For You

21. Yeaysayer – Odd Blood

22. Grinderman – Grinderman 2

23. Diamond Rings – Special Affectations

24. Vampire Weekend – Contra

25. Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

Honourable Mentions: Foals – Total Life Forever, Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me, Crocodiles – Sleep Forever, No Age – Everything In Between, Warpaint – The Fool

Singles (That do not appear in the top albums of the year)

1. Cut Copy – Where I’m Going
2. Kid Cudi, Best Coast, Rostam for Converse – All Summer
3. Kayne West f. Common, Kid CuDi, Pusha T, Big Sean Charlie Wilson – Good Friday
4. The Roots – The Fire
5. Spoon – Written In Reverse
6. Maximum Balloon – If You Return
7. Chromeo – I’m Contagious
8. The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire
9. Mark Ronson – Bang Bang Bang
10. Kid CuDi – Scott Mescudi Vs. The World

Honourable Mentions: Rural Alberta Advantage – Stamp, La Roux featuring Kanye West – In For the Kill (Remix), Lady Ga Ga – Telephone (Yeah. Ga Ga. Get over it. Have you ever actually tried texting with a drink in your hand? Well let me tell you, it’s downright arduous. And she just, like, gets it, you know? And Beyonce’s there, too.)

Covers

1. Dirty Projectors – As I Went Out One Morning (Bob Dylan)
2. The Kills – Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground)
3. Passion Pit – Tonight, Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins)
4. Peter Gabriel – My Body Is A Cage (Arcade Fire)
5. Grizzly Bear – Boy From School (Hot Chip)
6. Band of Horses – Georgia (Ce-Lo)
7. John Legend & The Roots – Wake Up (Arcade Fire)
8. Rural Alberta Advantage – Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)
9. Hot Chip – She Wolf (Shakira)
10. Gorillaz – Crystalized (The XX)

Honourable Mentions: Cee Lo – No One’s Gonna Love You (Band of Horses)

Movies

1. Black Swan
2. Exit Through The Gift Shop
3. Winter’s Bone
4. True Grit
5. Inception

Honourable Mentions: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, The Social Network

Books

1. Freedom – Jonathan Franzen (But also read The Corrections. Seriously.)
2. They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children – Romeo Dallaire
3. The Authenticity Hoax – Andrew Potter
4. Player One – Douglas Coupland
5. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk – David Sedaris

Honourable Mentions: Wilson – Daniel Clowes, Antwerp – Roberto Bolano (Published in ENGLISH for the first time in 2010… Not sure if that counts. If it does it bumps to number 5. Not that I have a damn clue what it’s about after two reads, mind you.) 

And A General Shout Out To:

1. The iPhone 4

- B