30 Ty Segall – Melted
29 Shackleton – Fabric 55
28 Caribou – Swim
27 Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers
26 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
25 Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
24 The Walkmen – Lisbon
23 Tennis – Tennis (cassette)
22 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
21 Frankie Rose & the Outs – Frankie Rose & the Outs
__________
20 Twin Shadow – Forget
mp3:
Twin Shadow :: Slow
__________
19 Forest Swords – Dagger Paths
mp3:
Forest Swords :: Miarches
Forest Swords :: Rattling Cage
__________
18 Harlem – Hippies
mp3:
Harlem :: Gay Human Bones
__________
17 The Samps – The Samps
mp3:
The Samps :: FXNC
The Samps :: Peppergood
__________
16 Grimes – Geidi Primes
mp3:
Grimes :: Feyd Rautha Dark Heart
Grimes :: Rosa
__________
15 Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
mp3:
Dum Dum Girls :: Jail La La
Dum Dum Girls :: Bhang Bhang, I’m a Burnout
__________
14 Big K.R.I.T. – wuz here
mp3:
Big K.R.I.T. :: Country Shit
__________
13 Twin Sister – Color Your Life / Alternates
mp3:
Twin Sister :: All Around and Away We Go
Twin Sister :: Lady Daydream (cassette version)
__________
12 Earl Sweatshirt – EARL
mp3:
Earl Sweatshirt :: Couch (feat. Ace Creator)
__________
11 Toro y Moi – Causers of This
mp3:
Toro y Moi :: Blessa
__________
10 Girls – Broken Dreams Club
More earnest pop gems from Girls: Broken Dreams Club is honest and heart-wrenching and revelatory in a way that you could only expect from these two. A very natural extension of Album, but also a tremendous step up, punctuated by tighter production and sonic explorations that exude a well-earned confidence. “Substance” charms with help from Dee Dee of Dum Dum Girls, and “Carolina” — a jam we’ve had in our head for roughly two years — rounds things out in epic fashion.
mp3:
Girls :: Heartbreaker
__________
09 White Denim – Last Day of Summer
With the the looser, “fresh and casual” approach (their words) that White Denim takes on Last Day of Summer, the band comes closer than ever to capturing the preternatural chemistry and seemingly effortless shapeshifting flow they consistently display in their live shows. Not bad for what essentially amounts to a stopgap / “little summer retreat” while we wait for the band’s proper third full-length. Download it for whatever you’d like to pay here.
mp3:
White Denim :: Some Wild Going Outward
__________
08 Games – That We Can Play
In which ’80s homage/nostalgia is elevated to instant classic status by masterful pop deconstruction — and subsequent magical reconstruction — from Oneohtrix Point Never’s Daniel Lopatin and Tigercity’s Joel Ford. Granted, the run time here is slight, but the EP’s brevity works in its favor, as there’s not a wasted second on this thing. Also featuring one of the best songs of 2010, the unexpected “Cruel Summer“-recalling pop hit “Strawberry Skies,” which features vocals from Laurel Halo.
mp3:
Games :: Midi Drift
__________
07 Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
Like most of the uniformly stellar (and underrated) output from Texan Jana Hunter, the self-titled debut from her new band Lower Dens is understated and unassuming, almost to a fault. But repeat listens reveal gorgeous waves of ringing, shimmering “post punk drone pop,” bolstered by Hunter’s emotive, vaguely androgynous vocals and a tangible, increasingly rare cohesiveness for such a young band. This one crept up on us, and cliched as it may sound, it’s fair to say that the whole here far exceeds the sum of its parts.
mp3:
Lower Dens :: Tea Lights
Lower Dens :: Hospice Gates
__________
06 Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
The highly anticipated, perpetually delayed solo joint from one of our favorite rappers is a triumphant return on all fronts. Despite a few still-kind-of-awesome missteps — who invited Vonnegutt? — Big Boi’s classic, ridiculously dexterous flow and the record’s always inspired, deliriously out-there production cement this as the most fun (and funkiest) thing released in 2010. Best driving music of the year, too.
__________
05 Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
There’s no question we fell in love with the more immediate songs on Have One On Me upon first listen, although like most, we initially found the record as a whole kind of daunting and impenetrable. But as you witness Newsom bring these songs to life, you’re forcefully reminded of her very literally prodigious and virtuosic ability as a musician, songwriter, and lyricist, which only reaffirms how graceful and delicate and achingly beautiful these subtly complex compositions are. Revisit this one, it wears in like an old friend.
__________
04 James Blake – CMYK / Klavierwerke
Ghostly, living/breathing atmospherics from London’s James Blake, who, in CMYK + Klavierwerke, has created two of the year’s most groundbreaking releases. Blake’s Burial-esque manipulation of vocals and unique and imaginative use of space is incredibly soul-stirring and affecting in ways that are unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Nowhere is this more evident than on the mournful, fairly mindblowing “I Only Know (What I Know Now),” which sounds like being born/dying, or as P4k’s David Bevan put it, “like infinity trapped inside of five minutes.”
mp3:
James Blake :: CMYK
James Blake :: I Only Know (What I Know Now)
__________
03 Shabazz Palaces – Shabazz Palaces / Of Light
Originally self-released at the end of ‘09 and re-released by Sub Pop last month, Seattle’s Shabazz Palaces thrillingly juxtapose the platinum voice and conscious/menacing lyrics of Palaceer Lazaro — aka anti-Kanye Ishmael Butler of Digable Planets — with bumping, futuristic Brainfeeder-level beats to create the most adventurous and inventive hip-hop release of the year. Look for a full-length in early 2011.
Shabazz Palaces :: Blastit…
__________
02 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
EXCLUSIVE: we asked Carles to write a blurb for us about Ariel Pink’s brilliant Before Today, which was recorded in a real studio:
“Alas! The brilliant lofi texturewave artist Ariel Pink has finally done it, leaving many of us wondering: “What did music sound like Before Today?” which is coincidentally the title of his gamechanging 2010 release with his band of lofi talismans known simply as the Haunted Graffiti. Merging his ambient bedroom recording artist textures with the modern textures and professionalism of the modern recording vibes required for ‘mainstream indie coverage’, Ariel Pink has emerged from the shadowy textures of yesteryear and has evolved into a modern indie star. It seems as if perhaps the world has finally caught up with Ariel Rosenberg, and our ears are finally ready for his textures. “Before Today” is history, while the future is a mystery but today is a gift which belongs to Ariel Pink.”
–Carles of Hipster Runoff
mp3:
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti :: Round and Round
__________
01 Beach House – Teen Dream
The most elegant, visceral, sensual release of the year comes from one of our favorite bands in the history of this blog. Teen Dream was born of a fully evolved vision and the indefatigable connection between Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand, whose voice is quickly becoming an iconic one. And, it has the best songs.
mp3:
Beach House :: Zebra (edit)
Beach House :: Norway
__________
GORILLA VS. BEAR’s ALBUMS OF 2010
01 Beach House – Teen Dream
02 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
03 Shabazz Palaces – Of Light/Shabazz Palaces
04 James Blake – CMYK/Klavierwerke
05 Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
06 Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
07 Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
08 Games – That We Can Play
09 White Denim – Last Day of Summer
10 Girls – Broken Dreams Club
11 Toro y Moi – Causers of This
12 Earl Sweatshirt – EARL
13 Twin Sister – Color Your Life / Alternates
14 Big K.R.I.T. – wuz here
15 Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
16 Grimes – Geidi Primes
17 The Samps – The Samps
18 Harlem – Hippies
19 Forest Swords – Dagger Paths
20 Twin Shadow – Forget
21 Frankie Rose & the Outs – Frankie Rose & the Outs
22 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
23 Tennis – Tennis (cassette)
24 The Walkmen – Lisbon
25 Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
26 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
27 Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers
28 Caribou – Swim
29 Shackleton – Fabric 55
30 Ty Segall – Melted
*disclaimer: can’t believe that new Ghostface hasn’t leaked yet // also, we excluded a couple of Forest Family-affiliated bands that would have otherwise figured in here somewhere
Hey, does anyone know where the artwork for these compilations/best-ofs/monthly mixes comes from?
Dig Ty Segall’s inclusion.
This list makes absolutely no sense at all.. and it screams, “WE’RE DIFFERENT!”
Where’s Flying Lotus and Kanye West =|
As much as I love OFWGKTA, you would have to be dense or motivated by individualism to think that any of their albums are better than those two named above.
“motivated by individualism”? well, these are my personal favorites, so yeah i guess that’s one way of putting it. that kanye record is so ridiculously overrated. not sure why it’s so unfathomable to you that I might enjoy listening to Odd Future, Big Boi, Ghostface, Shabazz Palaces, Big K.R.I.T., etc. way more than Kanye, but it’s true.
Love Flying Lotus though.
Oh.. I thought this was a consensus.. makes more sense that its an individual list.
No worries brah.. it’s a good list.. it just didn’t make sense if it were a collective response.
Its not “best albums”, its “favourite albums”. GVB prefers these albums more than Kanye and Lotus and that makes sense to me, you can make your own list. I dont see how Kanye’s album could be a favourite of many peoples, Flying Lotus is more understandable, thats got class.
I’m really surprised you guys didn’t have Wild Nothing, Tame Impala, or PS I Love You. Those I can forgive; excluding the true AOTY, Titus Andronicus’ “The Monitor”, however, is not acceptable.
The Airing of Grievances > The Monitor
you sir, are correct.
Top Ten 2010
1. Gemini-Wild Nothing
2. Go-Jonsi
3. Before Today-Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
4. Innerspeaker-Tame Impala
5. Movement in a storm-James Yuill
6. In Praise of More-The Engineers
7. The Ocean Tango-The Ocean Tango
8. The Reluctant Graveyard-Jeremy Messersmith
9. A Balloon Called Moaning-The Joy Formidable
10. Between the Sounds-The Candles
Top Ten Songs 2010 (no particular order)
1. “Summersongs in the Snow”-Labrador
2. “The New Improved Hypocrisy”-The Radio Dept.
3. “Norway”-Beach House
4. “I Didn’t See It Coming”-Belle & Sebastian
5. “Under the Gun”-Apex Manor
6. “Funeral Song”-Minks
7. “Recalling”-The Proper Ornaments
8. “Transporpirações”-Le Almeida
9. “Always”-Junip
10. “Since April Left”-The Metric Mile
radio dept. & wild nothing were best
my top 5 of 2k10
1.Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti -”Before Today”
2.Beach House -”Teen Dream”
3.How To Dress Well -”Love Remains”
4.Male Bonding – “Nothing Hurts”
5.OFF! -”First Four Eps”
I thought “Have One on Me” was by far the best record of the year. To me its intricate melodies, consistency, uncompromisingly individual sound and, for want of a better word, “soul”, make everything else seem aloof and self-conscious.
“Cosmogramma” not even in first 30?
Same thing as Pitchfork, pretty much, except I don’t think you can chime in on pitchfork’s list. It does scream out: “being different-” Trying so hard to color outside the lines. I get it, though. Most of it is good, of course but what happened to The Morning Benders, Fang Island, Local Natives, etc. Maybe I’m referring more to the Pitchfork list, they who spent so much time lauding releases all throughout the year and then by the end of the year, a case of amnesia develops and they opt to choose the more obscure, inaccessible outings. I don’t get how music that got “best new music” throughout the year gets chosen after music that didn’t. How does that work? Do they decide otherwise as the year moves along? The Local Natives record may have been more reachable in terms of pop but in my opinion, it was the most delightful listen I got the whole year.
Wasn’t Gorilla Manor released in 2009? I think it was. Also, not defending Pitchfork by any means, but I do tend to ‘forget’ certain releases that I though were great when they first came out, later in the year. As have certain albums grown on me while my initial response wasn’t that enthusiastic. And I’m sure this has happened to you a couple of times as well. Anyway, I’m not one for lists, nor ‘grading’ albums, so I can’t really work up a sweat about stuff like this.
Gorilla Manor was released 16th Feb 2010, so well within the year ;-)
Was released November 2nd 2009 in the UK though…
How can you not include LCD Soundsystem “Is This Happening?”
because it bores me to tears
How can you not type the album’s title correctly?
Where’s MGMT and Tame Impala??
I guess i’m the only person who thought Owen Pallett’s “Heartland” was one of the best albums this year…
i completely agree with you. seems like people forgot that it came out this year or something. totally overlooked. or did people just not like it? i dunno… fucking beautiful.
owen pallett ftw!!!!!!!1
Flying Lotus left me completely unmoved – a bit like Squarepusher, but watered down and not as good.
Liked ‘Odd Blood’ from Yeasayer so would have been good to see that in there but otherwise a good list with plenty of stuff to go and check out that I haven’t heard yet.
Why are people complaining about the fact that their favorites aren’t on this list. People– if there’s anything to understand prior to reading a review/selection/opinion of music, it’s that views are completely subjective and only pertain to what the writer enjoys, not a summation of what everyone else enjoys.
Cuz these lists from ppl whose opinions they respect give them vindication when it matches with their thoughts and a lil “wait you didn’t know how good this was?” when it’s not
if y’all liked flylo’s shit this year (i know i did) check out HTTP://SEATHINGS.BANDCAMP.COM/ for a free album [[altered zones has compared him to flylo, this isn't a completely contrived claim]] don’t sleep… enjoy
nice piece here gvb
Horse shit of a list. Caribou- swim should at least get top 5.. Local natives??? LCD??? Remember when you were not nearly as cool as you are now and it was more about music than image.
LCD album is boring as hell. not a fan of local natives
Are you not a LCD fan or just weren’t digging the album?
glad some finally said it. LCD is possibly the most overrated band of the decade. boooooo-ring.
*someone
I love how gnarly you are all getting over LCD Soundsystem. I kind of wish Born Ruffians made the list, but hey, you can’t win em all right kids?
Keep up the good work Chris.
i hate getting involved in no-win arguments, but i just have to give chris props for putting the list out for us all to bitch about. seems to me that if i want to make my own top list, i should put it on my own blog? give GVB some credit for being just what it is – something we all enjoy.
thanks for playing great tracks, exposing me to new music, and giving us news and downloads for free all year long! definitely my favorite music blog.
Wheres MGMT, and Tame Impala and Local Natives and Villagers, an atrist that seems to be continually left out of each Album of the Year list even though “Becoming a Jackal” is clearly one of the best records of the year. And MGMT as well is a record that if you spend some time with it, you’ll see its a rarity and a reocrd that will become a staple of modern psychdelia in years to come.
Glad to see a best of 2010 list without Kanye West. Thanks.
-Dylan
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Thanks for the great list. I featured it on my blog: http://loveyourmusic.tv/content/best-best-2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5gQidrzojU
Watch that 7 minutes and 53 seconds of perfect music and tell me you aren’t moved. How can you call that boring? That is AMAZING.
Well, anyhow, great list. Thanks a lot for sharing. Beach House truly deserved the one spot, such a kick ass record.
Not moved. Far from moved. Bored. The vid is kinda cute, but I couldn’t make it past the 4 minute mark. Besides, it’s pretty much a Remain In Light lift anyway.
20. Lazerbeak – Legend Recognize Legend
19. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
18. Future Islands – In Evening Air
17. Broken Bells – Broken Bells
16. Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
15. Elsinore – Yes Yes Yes
14. Warpaint – The Fool
13. The Roots – How I Got Over
12. Sun Airway – Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier
11. Jonsi – Go
10. The Walkmen – Lisbon
9. Active Child – Curtis Lane EP
8. Gayngs – Relayted
7. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
6. The National – High Violet
5. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
4. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
2. Menomena – Mines
1. Beach House – Teen Dream
not surprising but not very cool either – http://bit.ly/ek3SXR
cool? who cares. like what you like.
James Blake = AOTY 2011… or will it be forgotten in 12 months times?
where is sufjan on this list, I thought his age release would be found here. am I missing something?
U must say i’m relieved nOT to see Sufjan on this list. I’m so over that guy’s sound. He’s so totally overexposed and every song sounds the same to me.
All are amazing!!
No How To Dress Well?!
Nobody likes Foals – Total Life Forever?
we do realize that it’s hilarious how upsetting it is to find out other people don’t like what we like, right?
exactly. now i feel like a dumbass and a huge hipster after reading all these comments cause kanye west is my personal year’s favorite…. whatev, i still like the album
wheres Wavves man???
jk
beach house? really?
yes
hell yes!
No FlyLo, Kanye, or Roots?
what the fuck yo where’s Teebs’ Ardour in there?
Thank You! Teebs – Ardour. Fantastic Album.
where is high violet??
It’s great to find a list where Kanye West is not at the top, I don’t have anything against that album, I just think is so over rated.
Beach House definitely deserves all praise, so much respect for Gorilla vs Bear.
Although I understand Harlem’s position in your list/ not an all around solid album but some serious bangers/ the same applies to the Dum Dum Girls album, not top 15 worthy
Earl’s Half The Reason The Review’s Fantastic
Tyler, Is That You?
YES YES YES. FUCK. YES.
In retrospect, this remains a mostly awesome list, but where’s Rangers? Suburban †ours was/is amazing.
I think you’re retarded, specifically for only having about 10 of the same albums as me. BUT that’s not why I’m here. I love this list cause it pointed out about 10 albums I was to busy to listen to & will go back & possibly incorporate into my list.
1 question though. What is it that makes My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy not have class, yet Sir Lucious Left Foot makes the list?
28 Caribou – Swim
27 Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers
26 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
25 Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh
24 The Walkmen – Lisbon
23 Tennis – Tennis (cassette)
22 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
This part of the list is awful. just vomit level
nah
haha ok:)… i just meant instead of some of the things left out.
.
Tennis-Tennis(cassette) where do i find this?
You know what albums’ way overrated? Before Today. Except for a few exceptional, game-changing tracks (“Round and Round” and “Bright Lit Blue Skies”) that hint at a fully-formed, wholly unique aesthetic, it’s a total slog trying to get through that album. Maybe you don’t like LCD’s sound (doesn’t make sense to me and I think it’s really obnoxious and off-base to knock him for “ripping off” late 70s/early 80s bowie, talking heads, etc.), at least James Murphy is a thoughtful, insightful lyricist. I’ve tried to listen to the “music” that Ariel Pink shits out of his armpit on the second half of “Before Today” a couple dozen times and it’s never come close to resonating in any sort of meaningful way.
madlib medicine show