Do you remember “glo-fi”? The much maligned chillwave? Of course you do … for now. It’s interesting to note that after all of 2010′s trendy genre terms and hot-for-a-minute one-man bands, our Top 5 consists of a handful of sturdy veterans. The Top 10 expands to include a couple newcomers, newbies amid, again, three established crews. What does it mean? Well, the situation’s analogue to 2006 when a number of so-called “blog rock” bands like Tapes ‘N Tapes, Clap Your Hand Say Yeah, and Cold War Kids made immediate wav(v)es, but albums released by old standbys received the year-end kudos. This isn’t to say you should reject the new — there are plenty of debut albums in our Top 50 and plenty of worthwhile debuts that didn’t make it — but it does say something about the amount of music released and processed and then forgotten in any given year. (Trivia: Which band that debuted in ’06 made it into our Top 5?) A positive result of all the fractures, fissures, flashy genre names: The average listener is definitely hearing more music and becoming more adventurous than in, say, 2006. (Sorry Decemberists.) Which means bands that may have seemed too “weird” for a casual listener even a few years ago are popping up in unexpected places in 2010.
It’s unclear why — oil slicks, down economy, jeggings — but it’s also been a much darker year for music via bands like Crystal Castles, oOoOO, Balam Acab, Zola Jesus, White Ring, Salem, Frank (Just Frank), the sundry so-called “witch house” (and Wierd) crews. As a result, the following list features more than a couple folks who might be charged with having goth tendencies (or at least black nail polish and old Cure and/or Kate Bush shirts). To take this sense of adventure into another direction, our No. 1 is someone your father might even know about and our No. 5 is on a “major label.” Notions of what “indie rockers” listen to is shifting and expanding, a positive step toward escaping the pratfalls of across-the-board year-end list homogeneity.
One of the fun things about lists is discovery, so it doesn’t make sense giving away too much, but we will say that what follows is the result of four people saying yes and no and maybe, and that if you were to break out individual lists from it, they’d look very different. (That said, if you asked us to collaborate again, it would look very much the same.) It should be noted that the following doesn’t include any metal — a separate one-man list for the heavy stuff will show up in Haunting The Chapel later this month, so please don’t ask why we didn’t include Agalloch or Watain. Also, we disqualified EPs; those get their own special ranking below the main list.
Start digging, digesting, and disagreeing.
50 Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?
49 Small Black – New Chain
48 Sharon Van Etten – Epic
47 Baths – Cerulean
46 Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
45 Perfume Genius – Learning
44 Field Music – Field Music (Measure)
43 Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty
42 Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
41 Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
40 Glasser – Ring
39 Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
38 Avey Tare – Down There
37 jj – jj nº3
36 the morning benders – Big Echo
35 Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
34 Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
33 MGMT – Congratulations
32 Twin Shadow – Forget
31 Warpaint – The Fool
30 Das Racist – Shut Up, Dude
29 Matthew Dear – Black City
28 Delorean – Subiza
27 Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
26 Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
25 ceo – White Magic
24 Tamaryn – The Waves
23 SALEM – King Night
22 Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern
21 Liars – Sisterworld
20 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
19 Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
18 Abe Vigoda – Crush
17 Owen Pallett – Heartland
16 The National – High Violet
15 The-Dream – Love King
14 Yeasayer – Odd Blood
13 LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
12 Crystal Castles – II
11 Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
10 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
09 Wild Nothing – Gemini
08 Antony & The Johnsons – Swanlights
07 Vampire Weekend – Contra
06 Sleigh Bells – Treats
05 Robyn – Body Talk
04 Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz
03 Beach House – Teen Dream
02 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
01 Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
//
Here’s that list in more copy/paste friendly format so you can post on your LiveJournal:
50 Emeralds – Does It Look Like I Am Here?
49 Small Black – New Chain
48 Sharon Van Etten – Epic
47 Baths – Cerulean
46 Frank (Just Frank) – The Brutal Wave
45 Perfume Genius – Learning
44 Field Music – Field Music (Measure)
43 Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
42 Lower Dens – Twin-Hand Movement
41 Oneohtrix Point Never – Returnal
40 Glasser – Ring
39 Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
38 Avey Tare – Down There
37 jj – jj nº3
36 the morning benders – Big Echo
35 Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
34 Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
33 MGMT – Congratulations
32 Twin Shadow – Forget
31 Warpaint – The Fool
30 Das Racist – Shut Up, Dude
29 Matthew Dear – Black City
28 Delorean – Subiza
27 Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
26 Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
25 ceo – White Magic
24 Tamaryn – The Waves
23 SALEM – King Night
22 Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern
21 Liars – Sisterworld
20 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
19 Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
18 Abe Vigoda – Crush
17 Owen Pallett – Heartland
16 The National – High Violet
15 The-Dream – Love King
14 Yeasayer – Odd Blood
13 LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
12 Crystal Castles – II
11 Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
10 Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
09 Wild Nothing – Gemini
08 Antony & The Johnsons – Swanlights
07 Vampire Weekend – Contra
06 Sleigh Bells – Treats
05 Robyn – Body Talk
04 Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz
03 Beach House – Teen Dream
02 Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
01 Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
//
Coming up with the Stereogum list meant leaving out some personal favorites of our four staff members, so here are each of our HONORABLE MENTIONS:
SCOTT
01 S. Carey – All We Grow
02 Jaga Jazzist – One-Armed Bandit
03 Best Coast – Crazy For YouAMRIT
01 Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise
02 Earl Sweatshirt – EARL
3a PVT – Church With No Magic
3b Weekend – Sports
3c ARP – The Soft WaveBRANDON
01 Sun City Girls – Funeral Mariachi
02 Daniel Higgs – Say God
3a M.I.A. – /\/\/\Y/\
3b Blessure Grave – Judged By Twelve, Carried By Six
3c The Dead C – PatienceJESSICA
01 Scout Niblett – The Calcination Of Scout Niblett
02 Drake – Thank Me Later
03 Wolf Parade – Expo ’86
//
And as mentioned in the intro, we decided to do EPs as a separate list — because, really, as we started compiling our individual staff lists we released 2010 generated more amazing EPs than any year in our collective recent memory.
STEREOGUM’S TOP 15 EPS OF 2010
15 Blondes – Touched
14 Laurel Halo – King Felix
13 Kingdom – Mind Reader
12 Gatekeeper – Giza
11 Janka Nabay – Bubu King
10 Lemonade – Pure Moods
09 Tanlines – Settings
08 oOoOO – oOoOO
07 Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People
06 Games – Everything Is Working
05 Balam Acab – See Birds
04 Girls – Broken Dreams Club
03 Twin Sister – Color Your Life
02 James Blake – CMYK
01 Zola Jesus – Stridulum
THE GUMMY AWARDS
Finally, remember the Gummy Awards? This would’ve been their fifth year, but we realized too late that the code to build it was swallowed when we moved to WordPress earlier this year. So this is a modified Gummys, because we still want to know what you think. Fill out these fields by Friday 12/17 at 6 PM EST and we’ll post the rankings soon after. We won’t use your e-mail address (no spam-o) to do anything other than pick one voter at random to receive a Wavves grinder (i.e., the perfect stocking stuffer).
No more submissions accepted at this time.
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small black better than emeralds? thats wrong in so many ways
This list blows, bring back the gummys
Hey Gummies.
Prefer the “small black” instead WAVVES.
Fuck you!
Where is El Guincho?
Fuck you!
I’m starting to feel like I’m the only person who really enjoyed Romance Is Boring.
You are not alone.
Nor are you!
It’s just outside my personal top 10. I enjoyed it, but I haven’t liked the last two (counting We Are Beautiful…) as much as the first. Romance is Boring was like a lot of albums I listened to this year in that it had a few really, really great songs, and a bunch of stuff that I didn’t care for as much.
They put on a hell of a live show, though.
I traveled to NY specifically to see them and they were excellent. I met most of the band and got my shirt signed by all of them. I called Gareth “sir” because I’m cool.
The three LC! albums are each great in their own little way. It really depends on your mood, I think, so it’s understandable that some people might not like the last two in comparison two the first.
Hold On Now, Youngster was, like most people say, a sugar rush. An album brimming with energy, poppy melodies, and tons of punk riffage. WAB, WAD was a bit more of a powerhouse. It was incredibly dense and packed with noise, and the songs, specifically the first three hit you like a brick. Romance Is Boring was a lot more experimental and carefully orchestrated, so it seemed to waver back and forth between WAB’s heavy sludge and Hold On’s glockenspiel fetishes. It’s great in that it had everything the band currently had to offer and that you find something new every time you listen, since the band paid so much attention to detail. The last two albums are a lot heavier in subject matter too, so I think you have to have a certain degree of self-loathing to totally love them – probably the exact amount you find in awkward teenage boys, which is why it’s not surprising that I love all of them with a burning passion.
But yes, each album has it’s good qualities and it’s bad qualities. To each his own. Sorry for the lengthy analysis. I’ve just always wanted to say these things.
And yeah, that is one hell of a live show. Especially when you’re standing directly in front of Gareth in a tiny bar in Toronto.
No Romance is Boring is a crime. my #4 album of the year, the thing is fantastic.
And no Local Natives? I know it got released in some back alley at the very end of last year, but wasn’t an offical 2010 us release till like february or something. I didn’t really hit into them till May. So they are my #3 album of 2010.
That was quite an enjoyable album. Haven’t listened to it since it came out, though.
I love RiB so much. Maybe too much? Every time I see a list that doesn’t have it, I get all
just so you know
I totally have that shirt!
Romance Is Boring is soooo good! Nobody gives any love to Los Campesinos! these days.
you are not alone. In a year and a half, Los Campesinos went from being a band I’d never heard of to my most-played band. RAB is my number 2 listened to album on last.fm.
I love that RAB is just a little bit darker than the other albums, you can really see where the band has grown. Yeah, it’s my top album of the year.
HELL of a show, hell of a band.
Excluding RiB is probably the biggest lack of this list. It’s in my personal top 5.
Totally agree with you guys, Romance is Boring is probably my favorite of the year by a considerable distance in what was an incredible year. They also put on one of the best live shows I’ve seen and it’s even cooler they hang around to meet people, they’re all very genuinely sweet (I think I was actually amazed how nice Gareth is in person considering the way he comes across sometimes in lyrics and online). They all signed my copy of the record and I got some hugs and pictures.
I was totally there at the Wrongbar show too, Brock, with JoFo? Insane, just amazing.
No room for a little Gorillaz love? Plastic Beach has been so ignored this year; I didn’t expect that from you as well!
Gorillaz is on 90% of the lists I’ve read, most of which put it in the Top 10. Personally, like Janelle Monae and Ariel Pink, I don’t understand the overwhelming love.
What list? I can’t find them on any.
I agree. That album was the best of the year for me, with Joanna Newsom right on its heels. As strange as this sounds, it felt like a great leap forward for the cartoon band, and a great leap away from all the cheeky gimmicks that came with them in the early days; almost no filler, and just a great batch of songs. And with all the Gorillaz related posts on here, I’m surprised it didn’t make the list at all. :(
Titus Andronicus is Top 10. Oh and ditto for Gorillaz.
Whats so special about Titus Andronicus? I think the concept behind the album is cool, but the music itself doesnt really strike me as that inventive or trailblazing. It just seems like the buzz band to namedrop this year.
The Album will appeal to kids who grew up listening to punk rock, their music is jsut raw and its refreshing to hear a band take a genre I once loved and do it justice. Also, it really palys into the anger at the boring worlds we live in, and that is beautiful.
I’d argue that it’s for those who totally missed punk rock when they were kids. A safe, “brainy” excuse for them to be loud. What/ever.
The Monitor is one of the greatest lyrical achievements in recent memory. Often turning the very trite into the borderline heartbreaking. It is a great album. That and Beach House’s Teen Dream were my favorites, I think. I haven’t made a list.
Regardless of assorted placements (my personal number 2 spot goes to LCD. I think that record was one of the best I’ve heard in a long time), I think this is a nice list and includes all the things I would have chosen to include.
I’d also like to note that I think the forward is particularly on point — most of the things that blew me away this year were released by veterans. Plenty of very solid new music this year, but I’m hopeful that in the near future a newcomer will come along and make waves in a way that seems long lasting and Bigger than just blog love. RIP Chill Wave (2010-2010)
My ballot had LCD much higher, but again this was a group effort that involved math and stuff!
Ha I know, I just wanted to provide a counter-comment to all the annoying “WHAT?! GLASSER SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH HIGHER!” comments that are going to come in. As long as the good stuff is on there somewhere I’m happy.
OK, will you then please explain this LCD album to me? I know there is SOMETHING I’m missing. Here are my detractors:
1) I think “Dance Yrself Clean” is an awful opening track. 3 minutes 30 seconds of dicken around and “present company” repetitions before we can actually start jamming? It doesn’t build like “Get Innocuous” (a FAR superior opening track) so i really don’t see the point of turning the volume up on my stereo only to turn it back down when it finally decides to be a song.
2) Does anybody like “Someone’s Calling Me” ? Personally, I liked it better when it was called “Nightclubbin’” and Iggy Pop was singing.
3) Are we giving “Drunk Girls” the same pass as “North American Scum” ? On that note, does anybody think this album is BETTER than Sound of Silver?
Honestly, I’m a big LCD fan. Saw him at Coachella, loved it. Own his first album and Sound of Silver on vinyl. But I feel like I’m THE ONLY ONE this year who thinks that James Murphy put out a sub-par album.
SO, please, please, please, fans of this album, tell me something I’m missing. Or else I fear this album will forever be a mystery to me.
Thanks in advance. I’m being sincere & serious.
As someone who did not dig it at first, I can understand. Now I think that it is sometimes better than Sound of Silver depending on my mood.
1) I’m a big fan of Murphy’s lyricism, so if you listen to the first 3 minutes, he is saying the greatest shit ever. Harping on his friends for 3 minutes while saying “Present company excepted.” It’s hilarious. And the 3 minute wait is worth it because of the insane explosion at 3’08″. Heard it in a dance bar once and was pretty impressed by how well everyone responded to it.
2) Could take or leave SCM, but don’t hate.
3) I love North American Scum, so maybe I’m wrong to answer this. Drunk Girls, however bad on the first 10 listens, is in my opinion his response to “You wanted a hit.” Someone wanted a hit from him, so he wrote a shitty hit-like single and called it Drunk Girls. I think it’s hilarious and explained by You Wanted a hit.
I think this album is just as good as the others, if not better. And live it was killer. Starting off with DYK and ending with Home (which has the same melody at the end) made it feel like it came full circle.
Thanks for the answers samoven07, MUCH appreciated.
Anybody else care to chime in and defend “This Is Happening” ?
I agree with you..hugely overrated.
In general don’t listen to music to just be amused and a highly clever and ironic song is not a proper substitute for a good one.
Well I’m glad I asked, as damn near every top albums of 2010 has “This” in the top 10, even saw one with it at number one.
It seems it is the lyrics that is the problem. If you think, like many, that his lyrics are nothing special, then this record feels hollow. He just sounds so fucking pretentious on every song here, but dude can’t sing or rap — at least Kanye can rap.
Point is, if you’re going to give me long-winded beats (“You Wanted a Hit” is long-winded with really no great climax) then at least give me some lyrics I want to sing-a-long to and not feel like a dick.
I love This is Happening and my favorite songs are Dance Yrself Clean and Home. I love the slow build and the vocals on both tracks. I don’t like it as much as Sound of Silver but it is still an excellent album.
I’m all about opinions, and even I also think “Home” is a good track (love that robot video too).
But I don’t see how you can love “Dance Yrself Clean” because of its slow build. Is that what you call a slow build? “Get Innocuous” = slow build. “Dance Yrself Clean” = beat with a break. I’m fine with you loving it, but at least give me a factually correct reason for loving it.
This guy knows whats up. Seriously, I don’t understand why the LCD album is ranked so high on all these top of the year lists, other than the fact that it’s supposedly the final LCD Soundsystem album and everyone is paying their respects (what is this, the Oscars?)
Sound of Silver is *infinitely* better than This is Happening.
45:33 is better than This is Happening.
Shit is whack. Just go back and listen to David Bowie. It is better and sexier.
well of COURSE shit is whack. it comes out of your butt!
Just to let you know I totally agree with everything you said, Sound Of Silver hit me in the balls, This Is Happening hit me like a bitch-slap.
“present company excepted” – is him commenting on how we tend to judge those people similar to us that we don’t know. When two strangers create a Venn diagram together, neither one wants to rejected… we feel threatened by the presence of another human that is similar to us, because they could possibly be “better” than us!
I like this list, except Joanna Newsom should be in the Top 10 (I know, #11 is good, but srsly).
I agree with some of your choices, but then there are some of your choices I do not agree with. Fortunately, I am secure in the music that I do enjoy, so that does not change my enjoyment of that music.
I actually enjoy this list as it included many personal favorites, as well as albums that deserve to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments.
Glad to see the Stereogum held true and listed Kanye West’s album as the best of the year, as it deserves to be recognized for its truly remarkable addition to the world of music. What a piece of artwork that entire album is…
What people should consider is that with all the music that is released throughout the year, there is no possible way for anyone to truly rank in numerical order the best and worst album of the year. They should take these lists and look at it and say, “Awesome, my favorite album was included (no matter where it lies).” I look at these lists and think that it’s great to see so many bands recognized for their wonderful musical efforts, and more importantly, it exposes me to more albums/artists that I may have passed over and truly never heard of before.
Let the Kanye haters rain all over this thread as well…
Disagreeing with year-end lists is so 2008, you guys.
So is facebook.
no it’s not.
You’re right, it’s so 2004. Get off while you can1
more like 2004. good point samoven07. facebook is for tools.
Best Coast is up there. Also. Why is Kanye #1 on everyone’s list? That’s an obvious miscalculation.
I could not agree more about Kanye. It’s like a bad joke.
Completely agree. I listened to it. It was OK. 10.0/#1 on stereogum = mind fuck. What? Am I missing something? Maybe I need to listen again..
listen again.
seriously, i dont get it. It’s ok if he’s in top 50(or 50th), but No. 1???
I like that Sleigh Bells record, but I’ve had a hard time liking it as much since their crappy performance at Pitchfork. Vampire Weekend was good, but I have a hard time not comparing it to the first album, which I liked better.
Lists are lists, I guess, but I apparently liked the stuff from Titus Andronicus, Deerhunter, the Morning Benders, and especially the Besnard Lakes a lot more than a lot of people.
I saw sleigh-bells open for Yeasayer. And I also was not impressed, seemed kinda phoned-in.
I vote Panda Bear’s “Tomboy” best of 2015 (because that’s probably when the record will finally be released).
ahhhh. well that’s just wrong. i don’t know why people are giving you the “thumbs up,” little guy.
don’t drink the Kool-Aid everyone. this dude is whack.
i’m just tired of anticipating it already. anyone else? i loved person pitch of course, don’t get me wrong. but it sure seems like someone is stringing the fans along with this album, be it artist or label.
hi
No albums-of-the-year list will ever make anyone entirely happy other than those people who made the list, I know this. These lists never upset me. Different strokes for different folks and stuff.
But how does Broken Social Scene not even crack your top 50!? You picked 50 (FIFTY!) albums!
This is bonkers.
Yeah, the exclusion of BSS, Caribou and Walkmen on a list with 50 albums is a bit crazy to me.
I forgot Four Tet and Spoon aren’t on this list either. Ughhh
It’s because Spoon’s new album blows… but…
i only just realized the lack of the walkmen after reading your comment! I’m shocked, that record is excellent.
Are you serious? How could you go from making a respectable post to contradicting yourself so quickly…
i didn’t actually think that bss album was really special. it had a few ok songs but i didn’t enjoy it like i did their s/t and their earlier stuff.
Am I the only one who believes Kanye is WAY overrated. No. 1 on every list I’ve read so far. Give me a break.
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He’s not shit, but there’s no way his was the top album.
Unfortunately, I’d say this was a relatively weak year for music overall. Nothing at all has blown me away like MPP, Bitte Orca and Veckatimest did last year.
Did any of you nitwits listen to said album? If anything it’s underrated. Culturally, musically, lyrically, sonically, production-wise… the best album of the year.
practical question #1: how can an album that is #1 on virtually every list be “underrated”?
practical question #2: are we going to play “Stonehenge” tomorrow?
lol @ underrated? have you read any reviews of the record?
toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi
toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi
toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi
toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi toro y moi
SRSLY, causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this causers of this
As far as lists go, it’s unfair to include an EP next to an album. It’s far easier to put 4-6 good songs than make a coherent 10+ song effort. Also, people tend to be far more comfortable giving the top spots to old established acts than gamble it away to a newer artist. I guess there’s fear that things won’t quite turn out as expected, read they’d be one-album wonders.
Having said that, bitching time! No love for Gorillaz, Walkmen, Menomena or Caribou?!?!?! Even though, I really enjoyed Wild Nothing it gets a lot of negative points based on lack of originality. Not top 10 material, in my honest opinion, there were far better debuts this year.
Other wise, good list in general. Would have liked a favorite song list and videos? *gummy withdrawal*
What I was trying to say with my Wild Nothing comment is that, even though they’re my natural nemesis, Deerhunter’s album was Top 5 material.
damn skippy;)
No new pornographers? Bobby Bare, Jr? Belle & Sebastian? Guess I’m not hip.
the absence of together is stunning and broken social scene and nearly every other great Canadian band is a disaster. Really goes to show the American skew this site has especially seeing as they went as mainstream as possible and gave Kanye West’s repeat of everything he has done before and made it number one?
Even though I disagree with the omission of Holy Fuck’s ‘Latin’ or with placing Kanye at the very top, I must admit that the list does one thing brilliantly: not including Best Coast. Thank you for that.
Yeah, on one hand I like some of Best Coast’s stuff, so I kind of get when they (she?) winds up in someone’s list of best whatever, but then the other part of my brain remembers that the whole album is kind of one song and goes “waitwhatwhyhow?”
Oh man… Latin came out this year! I’d expect to see it in the top 10.
I’m not really feeling this, but that’s probably because I haven’t heard 50% of the albums on this list. When did everyone start hating of Montreal? False Priest is top ten material. And Titus should be top 5, at least. And am I the only one that finds Joanna Newsom boring?
ever since her first album she has been slighlty dull. still love her though.
Oh wait, I just realized this list has no Spoon. Yeah, this list sucks.
I was extremely disappointed by oM’s album. I, like SG, would not have included it in the top ten nor top 50. I expected so much more out of him after “Skeletal Lamping.”
False Priest is the most fun I’ve had with an album this year. It’s almost like comedy. Hissing Fauna and Skeletal Lamping felt much more tense, druggy and crazy; and I liked that Kevin Barnes, but I much prefer this funnier and playful version of him.
Yeah, I went into this year saying that FP would be the album of the year, but now that it’s almost over, I’m not so sure at all… I thought the album didn’t evoke much emotion from me. When i listen(ed) to older OM, past all the dancing/drugs/debauchery, I was comforted by his lyrics, or hurt by them, or at least felt something. WIth FP, however, I just never connected. But the music is still good and it’s probably top ten. Just not #1.
No love for Best Coast at all? Salem in the mid-20s? Glasser and Perfume Genius in the 40s? Kanye at #1? Really? That’s what we are going with this year? Kanye puts out solid album after solid album but he’s the AC/DC of hip-hop. It all pretty much is the same. Same is good but it’s still the same, and you are going to put that above Arcade Fire? Really? Yeah this is all very weird.
Roc-A-Fella is paying off these year end lists, I’m sure.
His last album was garbage. The new one is amazing… how is this the same?
I’d like for you to go into detail about how 808s & Heartbreak is the same as The College Dropout. He switches shit up every album, that is kind of his calling card.
Kanyes 808s was his best album. and arcade fire album was way to boring…put me to sleep…lol suburb culture is boring so it kinda makes sense.
How did No Age not even crack the top 50? Surely there has been a mistake.
no age is the same boring shit over and over….blurg
Honestly, Stereogum you did a great fully rounded list that was mostly inclusive to the best new hope (and some hype) of 2010, but was balanced. Personally, your top 10 was probably the best I have seen on year end lists thus far, but I thought Zola Jesus Stridulum 2 was an LP and NOT EP, so I don’t know why it didnt feature as album?
Stridulum II was released as a UK LP (Stridulum + Valusia with the omission of “Poor Animal”). North America got the 2 EP release.
oic:) thanks for the heads up.Glad to see her getting your exposure. That girl rocks on so many epic goth levels:)
Tallest Man on Earth, Caribou and No Age were all in my top 8. This was a shitty year for buzzbands, to put third tier garbage like sleigh bells in the top ten is just stupid.
Gross omissions:
SPOON
GAYNGS
NO AGE
THE BOOKS
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
CARIBOU
wtf?
Completely agree with Broken Social Scene and No Age. Dare I say that Broken Social Scene released their best album since You Forgot It In People….?
No Spoon… No Walkmen… No Best Coast… NO Tallest Man on Earth… CRAZY!
Tallest Man and Walkmen are in my top 10 this year for sure and while Transference didn’t do as much for me as any other Spoon record has, it’d still be comfortably in my top 50. I’m also surprised to see Titus Andronicus back so low… love that record.
By the way, one of my favorite records of the year I stumbled upon at an LES club over the summer… check these guys out… http://www.greatelkmusic.com
Where are The Hold Steady and Belle and Sebastian on your list? (And Janelle should be higher.)
Am I the only one surprised that Jonsi hasn’t made any of these year-end lists yet? I’m not even saying it’s Top Ten material, but I would have expected it to break into some of these longer lists, at least. Especially on a site like Stereogum.
That’s been bugging me, too. I actually double-checked that it was released in 2010, because I couldn’t believe it was left off so many lists. I am certainly not the definitive authority on great albums, but I have listened to ‘Go’ more than anything else that came out in the past year.
Stephen Thompson finally broke the trend in his Year’s Top 10: http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2010/12/08/131879290/stephen-thompson-s-10-favorite-albums-of-2010
No Gorillaz, no No Age, no Surfer Blood, no Broken Belles, no Wavves.
Not even an honorable mention. Guess they had to make room for The-Dream.
yeah, wavves and no age are both in my top ten, so that was upsetting. It was nice to at least see Avey Tare.
criminal to leave surfer blood off
No, that is not how you spell Bells.
Lot of Kanye hate going on in the comments! I honestly and sincerely believe that his album was BY FAR the best album of the year. I mean, in my personal opinion it’s the best album of the last several years, but that’s just me. I think it was a huge step forward for him creatively, I think it was a really interesting album as both a pop album and a hip hop album, and I think it deserves to top all the year end lists.
Let’s sample original hits and rap over them like they’re our own. This is Kanye’s definition of creativity and originality. He plays the same cards every time. And his head is bigger than the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima. Can’t think of a more self-important voice in hip-hop today.
Honestly, he really is self important and kind of doltish with his ego tripping. But as much as I HATED to even consider him as artistically credible or relevant, that all changed when I heard “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”. It really is a very special album and I personally think one of the top 3 of the year. If it has the staying power to convert a former Kanye hater, then the record has succeeded and by that merit alone, worthy of attention. I’d say to give it a spin mra and go from there:)
I can definitely understand having a problem with his persona, though I personally think there’s something so genuine about it that it doesn’t bother me. But to discredit sampling in 2010? Seems like an outdated argument. He has definitely created new music with the samples that is both creative and original, and it’s definitely worthy of its praise. If sampling this well and this creatively is so easy then everybody would be creating albums this good, but the fact is that they’re not.
thats a valid argument. i bet youre upset popular music doesnt use orchestras and castrati anymore.
the thing is samples are just another instrument. hell use a sample, throw some bass, add a hook. rap in a sing songy style on top. hes all about overkill. when you consider he cant even sing, dance, or even play an instrument, its quite amazing. hes just a pure idea guy
As he told MTV last month, “I do have a goal in this lifetime to be the greatest artist of all time, [but] that’s very difficult being that I can’t dance or sing.”
im been a fan of the start, and basically panned this and his last TWO albums. after my third complete listen to his new album, it all clicked, amazingly. and i usually only have to listen to albums once. going back and listening to his prior two i was suprised how much i enjoyed them more (and how much his last album had an influence on modern r’n'b/hip hop.)
as for playing the same cards every time, its arguable, but his new one is a huge leap. everything is just overdone and overbusy , with layered voices and like 4 guest verses. i think the proof of how one he is on this one, is all his good friday tracks he released for free that werent even on his album are all solid.
as for self importance/big head, all i care about is the output, image and personality could go take a flying leap, you should feel the same.
…Or a voice that backs it up with talent every time…
‘sample original hits and rap over them like they’re our own’?! Yeah, this is NOT a 2010 argument; this was my friends circa ’91. With the evolution of hip-hop over the last twenty years, your ‘argument’ might be better for bands who play G/C/Am chord progressions like they are their own…
So here’s my definitive list of 2010…
50. Girl Talk – All Day
49. M.I.A. – /\/\ /\ Y /\
48. Avey Tare – Down There
47. No Age – Everything In Between
46. Grinderman – Grinderman 2
45. The Black Keys – Brothers
44. Four Tet – There Is Love In You
43. Caribou – Swim
42. Vampire Weekend – Contra
41. Owen Pallett – Heartland
40. Band Of Horses – Infinite Arms
39. Frighttened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
38. Zola Jesus – Stridulum II
37. Liars – Sisterworld
36. Sleigh Bells – Treats
35. Joanna Newsom – Have One On Me
34. Das Racist – Shut Up, Dude
33. Fang Island – Fang Island
32. The Roots – How I Got Over
31. Antony & The Johnsons – Swanlights
30. Male Bonding – Nothing Hurts
29. The Books – The Way Out
28. Baths – Cerulean
27. Jónsi – Go
26. CEO – White Magic
25. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
24. Wild Nothing – Gemini
23. The Morning Benders – Big Echo
22. The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme
21. Field Music – Field Music (Measure)
20. Titus Andronicus – The Monitor
19. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
18. Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
17. Glasser – Ring
16. MGMT – Congratulations
15. Gonjasufi – A Sufi And A Killer
14. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
13. Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
12. Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz
11. Marnie Stern – Marnie Stern
10. The Tallest Man On Earth – The Wild Hunt
09. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
08. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
07. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
06. Women – Public Strain
05. The National – High Violet
04. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
03. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
02. Beach House – Teen Dream
01. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
I really like that Radio Dept. album. I am somewhat surprised that it hasn’t appeared on more lists.
I was all ready to complain about this until I got to #1.
Well I can definitely jive with your list better than SG’s! Nice to see Titus Andronicus get the bump up but they’d be in my top 10 for sure. Also nice to see Tallest man up there. Gotta say though… I was so utterly disappointed by Band of Horses and Frightened Rabbit that I couldn’t include them on a top anything! Glad to see Local Natives on there too! I mentioned these guys in another comment but from the look of your list I bet you’d dig them – http://www.greatelkmusic.com
they played after my friend’s band a few months ago and i’ve been listening to their EP like crazy since
Cold War Kids – Behave Yourself not in the top 15 EPs of the year??? How??
it was splendid
No Grinderman? Aww…
vote for it as your favorite album of the year. maybe you’ll get a free grinder, man.
lol
No Lisbon? Whoa.
I know! I am baffled and while I will admit it is not the best album of the year it is my favorite and deserves a spot on this list as well as many others
I like the top 5.
Contra, Swanlights, hum…, god, but I’m not sure. And where’s The Tallest Man on Earth??
i mean, “good”, no “god”
I do agree that the list is pretty on, though I still think that Kanye’s newest is overrated and the glaring omissions of The Walkmen and Spoon are pretty… umm… glaring. In other breaking news, my opinions on today’s music means something to exactly one person in this world.
nail on the head GLARING….it means something to me
Titus is absurdly low
Nice to see Women in the top 10. PS I Love You and Diamond Rings also had great albums this year, and while they’ve gotten critical attention I think they’ve both been somewhat underrated.
One more thing, do mixtapes (i.e. Das Racist, Big K.R.I.T., Odd Future, Lil B, Gucci, etc.) count?
Come on! The Head and the Heart!
Happy to see Wild Nothing in the top 10!
Genuinely surprised Caribou didn’t make this list, especially when I look at 30-50. Wowwie. Also. No Best Coast? I realize many bloggers are worn out on the Bethany buzz, but for f sake, give credit where credit’s due.
Not as surprised that Tobacco, Gayngs, and Julian Lynch didn’t make it, but I do feel their LPs have gone overlooked by most end-of-year lists. All are brilliant.
Janelle Monae, Fly Lo, and Big Boi should all be ranked higher IMO.
That being said, end-of-year lists aren’t much more than a little traffic-driving fun made better by entertainingly stabby reader scrutiny. Let’s not forget that 2010 was a stellar year for music lovers, and we all have our favorites. Bethany still exists, I just checked her Twitter.
Is it time for the Earl Sweatshirt LP yet?
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Then roll on over to rollingstone.com. I’m sure their love of all things gaga, is more suited to you and your esophageal preferences. I think they placed miley cyrus on there, too. you and your throat will be very happy…
….and they also gave Kanye the #1 spot.
Kanye’s album isn’t shit. It’s not even close to bad. But I don’t think it’s the best, of this year, or of his career.
You know me so well! Nothing like being profiled as a Top 40 bubblegum fan because I don’t care for overproduced Top 40 hip-hop. Go blow it out your Sprite Remix bottle bong.
(that little spitball o’ bile is meant for “mancat”, by the way. kanye’s album ISN’T shit. it’s fine! clearly lots of money was spent on it and it’s a very high quality product. but it’s not #1 best album of the year material. it just isn’t. so, uh, i guess this is where people downvote me some more. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :-D )
This is a very interesting list.
Titus Andronicus got SHAFTED. So did Janelle Monae, to a lesser extent.
I’d have put Gil Scott-Heron on there (in my list, he’s going to be ranked higher than Kanye, which I find rather amusing) but I’m not surprised he didn’t show up.
Good News For Canada
2, 12 & 17.
Great to see an e.p. category
three is too few where are new pornographers, broken social scene, stars put out there best work in four years this year we want our nations representation
true, not to mention Caribou or Aidan Knight
also great to see Sufjan so high up.
Vampire Weekend even cracking the Top Ten is laughable if not downright foolish.
Best list I’ve seen so far even if I disagree with a lot of it. Swans should’ve been way higher!
ROMANCE IS BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIRST AID KIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FALSE PRIEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, pick me! I focking WANT that grinder!
and yet another press outlet forgets Los Campesinos. Vampire Weekend in the Top 10 is pretty stupid too.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
F R I G H T E N E D R A B B I T ! ! ! “Winter of Mixed Drinks”
E V E R Y T H I N G E V E R Y T H I N G ! ! ! “Man Alive”
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Frightened Rabbit is a definite in my top 10, if not 5.. Epic..
i’ve said it once and i’ll say it again. sleigh bells = limp bizkit with a girl singer
Freelance Whales?
Broken Bells?
Two Door Cinema Club?
Tokyo Police Club?
dahh. Get rid of that Kanye thing.
SURFER BLOOD?!?!
I agree with Tokyo Police Club thought that album was great havent seen it on any lists
I haven’t heard any mentions at all of RRR – The Orchard on any list yet this year. Not even a small honorable mention… What gives?
The Orchard kind of feels like their victory lap to The Rhumb Line. I was mad disappointed considering how much I loved a handful of songs off their first.
Whoa, Titus are ridiculously low.
Clearly it was a better year for gimmicky washedout chill out than proper indie rock with something to say and some integrity. A shame.
Yeah, The Monitor fuckin’ rocked and Titus Andronicus’s live show is one of the best I’ve seen in a while.
CEO is mnumber 25.
YES!
Hapiness for my sweet heart.
Delorean is numer 28.
YES!
Sun for my winter house.
You guyses are such black keys haters…. BROTHERS
and totes mcgotes on all the Kanye shouldn’t be #1 comments (even though I’ve been listening to it for 4 days straight)
No love for Zach Hill? The greatest drummer around. Definitely deserves some respect for Face Tat
I agree. Where is the Black Keys?
Great album! Loaded with lots of slow jamz, but give it its due time and it flourishes!
I didn’t bother to mention it before because I can’t even think of a single post about The Black Keys, to be honest.
All the obvious omissions from the list make me realize that it was actually a pretty good year for music!
Exactly! Only two out of my top 10 even make this top 50.
There is no such thing as too much good music, only not enough time.
Yeah, I was thinking as I saw a list on AV Club or some other blog, that the year end lists this year are all over the board, and that’s pretty exceptional. Aside from a few standbys, namely Kanye at #1, the rest of the top tens for any list are pretty divergent. I think it’s great. It feels like it might just be the fruition of all the digital-delivery hype, that we now have the avenues for many different bands at many different experience/exposure/economic levels to have music heard by a lot of people, so when these lists come out you realize how much is available – enough for anyone to find something special.
This is the first time in a while that my luddite heart is being slightly warmed by the glow of the computer screen.
Where’s Caribou/Walkmen/No Age/Spoon? :(
No real Gummy Awards is completely unacceptable. I saw so many good youtube videos and tv shows as a result of last year’s lists.
The Gummys have been the highlight of my year for the past couple years.
I voted for the black keys which didn’t even make the list. C’mon people, support me
me too
Normally I do not get too upset over year end lists because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this lists’ omissions are just bizarre, not because they missed a few big albums, but because all the albums are similar in genre.
Missing Toro y Moi isn’t such a big deal because Small Black is on the list, and thus, I understand that Stereogum didn’t totally miss a big album, but instead didn’t like it as much as I did. However, THERE’S NEARLY NOTHING ALTERNATIVE/PUNK INSPIRED IN THIS LIST. The closest we get is Titus (Abe Vigoda is barely punk anymore).
Big punk/alternative-influenced albums missing (off the top of my head):
No Age
Wavves
Best Coast
Surfer Blood
This wouldn’t be a big deal if Stereogum was a blog in the strictest sense of the word, but you guys bill yourself as a music website/web-magazine. When I read a blog, I expect genres to be missing because a blog is one person’s opinion. You guys have a staff of four and its your job to keep it balanced taste-wise. If there was someone rep-ing this music niche, one of those albums should be on the list. Then I would be satisfied.
In b4 tl;dr.
wavves had an incredible album but best coast’s debut is so overrated its ridiculous….
surfer bloods are nice guys, but their album was solid, not spectacular. should be in top 50 for sure though.
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fellinlovewithadrummer.com
No Broken Social Scene,
No Wolf Parade (honorable mention)
So confused.
no love for my favorite ep… the war on drugs – future weather
also needs more earl sweatshirt.
More Odd Future in general. Radical was a great mixtape!
No related to the list. I love your name though, if the D-plan release something next year It will probably be top 5 material.
in the same vein, kurt vile’s EP was great!
The goddamned DRUMS! end of.
I’m sorry but the Yeasayer album should not be above High Violet
My first thought actually haha.
I honestly don’t understand why The Tallest Man on Earth is snubbed in every damn list.
I KNOW. Its my number 3, behind Teen Dream and Magic Man’s Real Life Color. I didn’t really expect Real Life Color to get much love, because not many people seem to have heard of Magic Man, but every one was talking about Wild Hunt when it came out!
Magic Man’s album is alright.
it definitely isn’t in my top 10 though.
it’s a promising album by a promising band…
I don’t understand either, but I did prefer his debut to Wild Hunt.
Yeah, the Wild Hunt was as consistently good throughout as almost thing released this year.
See, what happened is Los Campesinos! and Shout Out Louds broke the cardinal rule of Appearing in Year-end Lists: DON’T RELEASE AN ALBUM IN FEBRUARY!
Same goes for Surfer Blood, releasing their debut in late January.
KANYE’S ALBUM SHOULD NOT BE THE NUMBER ONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!!! Every time I see his album top a list it makes me want to barf. There were soo many great albums this year (a lot aren’t on this list) Kanyes is NOT one of them and especially not the #1 material.
It makes you want to barf? well, that must be because, being that you use the word barf, you’re from the year 1987, and you can’t quite manage to wrap your mind around how brilliant this album is.
ooh please, i know good music when i hear it.. i could list off a bunch of albums that deserve that spot waaayyy more than him
Kanye is mostly bark and no bite. oh by the way, George Bush doesn’t care about black people.
…barf’s from 1987?
kanye album is spectacular! its down to heart and really artistic…besides i almost positive people that hate kanye dont even listen to his tracks…they make assumptions
you too stereogum?
first pitchfork gives it a 10/10 and then you put it as the best album of the year.
it’s alright, but not the album of the year, or even close for that matter.
look it didn’t deserve 10/10 but if its not included in your album of the year discussion, there is something wrong with your ears.
It absolutely deserves a 10/10. it’s been 8 years since they issued a 10 to a non-reissue, and just like the last one (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) this album is bigger than pop, hip-hop, or year end lists in general. People will talk about it’s ingenuity and ahead-of-its-time-ness for years to come.
Thank You!
Thank you for thanking me…
truth be told, you are correct good sir:)
My problem will always be that it simply isn’t as good as Late Registration. I don’t have a huge problem with the hype, or the #1′s, because clearly it’s a very good album… but to say that it’s the BEST POSSIBLE MUSIC goes a little far. Especially because Late was better.
I’m glad to be seeing MGMT on a few lists. MGMT backlash seemed to be in full force this year, I like Congratulations quite alot, however.
Totally, agree, MGMT has seemed to have been snubbed of all the lists! Just like Sufjan Stevens and Titus Andronicus have been the names to drop, MGMT has been the name to bash… superb album, it was my most played album of the year along with Portugal. The Man’s American Ghetto
I really am baffled… Can somebody please explain to me how Kanye West’s album “breaks new ground” and is “a major piece of art”? Seriously though. I bought the album. I heard some great things about it and I love “Monster,” but when I put the album in, I listened and listened and became utterly confused as to how this album is at the top of everyone’s list… I’m not bashing on Kanye. The album’s good. But mind-blowing/groundbreaking/game-changing it is not. Call it what you want but will somebody please, for the love of goodness, explain this one to me? Good to see Sufjan getting the love he deserves though!!
Kanye is, if you will, the Sufjan of pop/hip hop. Culturally, this album is huge. Musically, it’s a step forward for him, especially after 808′s. It’s re-listenable, relateable, and more importantly, it’s a statement (an honest one) of who he is. It’s a totally accessible, commercial joy to listen to. Along with the GOOD Fridays venture and his forray into Twitter, this album gives listeners a (somewhat) clear view of the contradictions, loves, humor, and talent that amount to Kanye. And at this day in age, that’s at least worth a spot on top the pile. Sufjan is amazing, too. Fo’real. “All Delighted People” tied with “Runaway” as my fav songs of the year.
I would say Kanye is more like the Prince of pop/hip-hop. Ultimately he’s a talented and misunderstood guy. His general public appeal waxes and wanes, but at the root of it we all know he’s a unique voice that will likely endure…..you might not necessarily be ‘into’ what he’s doing all the time but the man does what he wants, and that alone in a music industry hampered by quickly-fading trends is refreshing.
Another perspective to look at is that there were little to no digestible ‘hip-hop’ albums this year, so in comparison, Kanye’s looks like a diamond in the rough (yes, the Roots did their thing, and they’re superb at it, but it’s not really a ‘new’ thing). There aren’t really any new artists pushing him in the genre. Kanye’s been around, released a bunch of material, and spawned a slew of modern artists are already ripping off his vibe. It’s easy to forget that he’s an original.
I’m not lobbying for MBDTF as my #1 pick this year by any means, but I do feel that it deserves a relatively high ranking on any year-end lists.
It’s hard for me to like artists who are clueless jerks in real life. Kinda like Sean Penn.
I wouldn’t compare him to Prince though since Prince can play pretty much any instrument he wants…Kanye isn’t that versatile, but nonetheless, he still knows how to weave his gifted ear into things.
100% agree. Kanye is only getting points because of the unique things he is doing in an otherwise creatively bankrupt genre. Compare him to the rest of the music world, he’s still average though. Above average rapper does not a game changer make.
Hahaha… The Black Keys not even mentioned.
Right???? Not that it matters but weren’t they nominated for a Grammy?
I’m pretty sure all that means is that mainstream music outlets started playing their music.
yeah! that album was the shit!
Menomena should be on there. Gorillaz should be on there. Sleigh Bells still really suck. And I know Ra Ra Riot didn’t get much love, but I’d much rather listen to The Orchard than 10 or so albums that made their way on this list. Alas……….
I’m with you. “The Orchard” got pretty tepid reviews from nearly reviewer, and I can’t figure out why. To my ears its one of the top five of the year, and other fans of theirs share the sentiment. I think reviewers dropped the ball this time, and I hope the album gets the reassessment it’s due.
Where does Local Natives fall in your list Stereogum? are you soulless? such an entirely well-rounded album… oft-overlooked. Amazing live show.
Also, the drums album is all killer no filler.
pretty sure the original release date for Gorilla Manor was in 2009
JEEZ!!!! Can everybody shut up about Kanye getting too much love. He deserves all the love and admiration he gets for his music. MBDTF was not only the clear album of the year but one of the best hip-hop releases of all time. It’s Kid A for a new generation.
Am I the only one that loves Avi Bufflalo?
No, you’re not.
No… Fucking loved that album.
That album was in my top ten.
Another one just outside my 10 favorites, but probably in my top 20. Another one with a few songs I love, and a bunch of stuff I’m lukewarm on. They crank up the energy in their live set. The album is just a tiny bit too mellow.
I think Diamond Rings should be on there. And why does no one like Bombay Bicycle Club? Too British?
Bombay Bicycle Club has my upvote every day
Sleigh Bells and Yeasayer are NOT as good as you think they are.
Gorillaz, Spoon and The Black Keys on the other hand, are WAY better than you think they are.
I like Spoon, but they’re kind of overrated. Not a great festival band. They closed Pitchfork fest a few years ago and it was so lackluster. I was disappointed.
As for Yeasayer, I miss their tribal/organic/world rhythms and sounds with actual, acoustic instruments as heard on cymbals. I really didn’t care for their electronic/mechanical approach to the new record, save a few good songs at the head of the album. But all in all, the compressed, computer-heavy synths and sounds are hokey. They should go back to their old ways.
i’m in complete agreement with this
Cosign. Absolutely love All Hour Cymbals, but I can’t wrap my head around Odd Blood being considered better than Tame Impala, Ariel Pink’s, Janelle Monae, etc.
REALLY? REALLY!?
Really good list you guys.
There are a few albums which I enjoyed that did not make it but making a post asking “where is album I liked?” or “why isn’t this album higher?” is really fucking stupid. <3 you guys. See you next year.
because it is VERY IMPORTANT to point out that people have different musical tastes and absolutely IMPERATIVE that other people know yours
I’ve never understood this site’s obsession with Vampire Weekend. So I’m gonna swear and insult like a child because I’m so offended my favorite band isn’t where I think they should be on the opinion list of a bunch of music hipsters.
Vampire Weekend is not a nod to graceland/saints era paul simon, it’s a complete rip off. overrated.
still h8 u vampy weeky
Stereogum, let me start by saying that I prefer your site to any other. Having said that, where the fuck is the Surfer Blood and Best Coast love? And not so much Best Coast, I get that, but Surfer Blood? How did that not crack the Top 50. Also, snicklefritz for putting Kanye West on top. IT WAS NOT THE BEST ALBUM THIS YEAR. It may take a few months before it dies down, but that was certainly not the best album this year. “Art” or not. Whatever.
And after repeated listens of both I would probably put Sufjan above Arcade Fire. Just saying.
Oh yeah, where is Happy Birthday. Didn’t people love that album as much as I did?
Also, thanks for The Best Eps list – Great idea.
My last questions is this: Is anyone going to have the sand to not put Kanye at the number one spot?
Glad to see Baths getting the recognition it deserves.
Nice to see Wild Nothings are getting some love,
where are Caribou and Local Natives?
Local Natives came out last year
The Local Natives album came out in 2009 in the UK but in 2010 in the US. Therefore, it could possibly still be included on the year end best lists…
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YES. Agreed. I can even see why people like the Morning Benders I guess but Local Natives? Glad to see they didn’t make the list.
You guys didn’t like this comment very much. No matter, I still stand by it.
Just curious to know where CocoRosie is in all this, Stereogum? You conjured up a huge dialogue over how Grey Oceans was critically panned but should not have been at one point this year, so I thought for sure you’d give it the nod you thought it deserved.
Either way, I love the list. You’re the only site who understands good music (even if you don’t post as much funny music gossip news anymore.)
I’m such a goddamn fanboy, but Halcyon Digest is so unbeatable and should really have the top spot. C’mon give Bradford his credit, or at least a higher spot than Sleigh Bells and Vampire Weekend (ugh). I’m not really a great follower of new music, but no Superchunk, Ted Leo, New Pornographers, No Age, Wolf Parade, Octopus Project, or Autolux? I know these bands aren’t the trendiest or most blog-able, but they all have released great albums this year and deserve a bit more attention than most “things” on here. *rant that makes me sound like a jaded old man over*. Glad to see Liars high up though, it’s no Drum’s Not Dead, but it’s a great album nevertheless.
I agree wholeheartedly. Halcyon Digest is the album of the year. Everything Brad and the boys touch is gold.
Also no Blonde Redhead, Past Lives, or Grinderman! NO FORGIVENESS STEROGUM (I still love you though :3).
That Past Lives record was great and unfortunately I think it’ll be forgotten on most lists.
Yeah, that’s pretty trippy.. no Blonde Redhead? Maybe the world is gonna end in 2012.
Beach House’s album was so boring with exception to “Norway”
You just made a fool of yourself, Jam Murray.
where the FUCK is of montreal false priest!?!
this list blows.
Who the f*ck is paying you sell outs to give that prick the top album? Apparently you guys don’t know jack sh*t about music. I’m not kidding in any way. You, and any other site that would call this garbage number 1 are completely clueless.
I am curious: do the people who are bemoaning the absence of the likes of Spoon, New Pornographers, Belle and Sebastian, of Montreal, and Wolf Parade think these albums are great artistic achievements or do you just love those bands? Not that it matters, it just seemed that the consensus was that those were lesser efforts by accomplished bands.
My personal list of missing bands include Menomena, Aloha, Besnard Lakes, Erykah Badu, and Northern Portraits. But, hey, there’s lots of great bands already on there and music is great and let’s just listen and be happy and stop being such little bitches about it.
I’m with ya, fearlessweaver. 67% of these comments are just so pointless.
It’s closer to 64% actually.
Exactly what I said above. People are just commenting on those albums being missed simply because they are groups that people traditionally like. The newest Spoon album was enjoyable, but way more inferior to many of the great achievements on this list. Same goes for The New Pornographers, Belle and Sebastian, and especially of Montreal. I did enjoy these albums, but found them to be ones that I liked, rather than ones that I thought deserved to be recognized for their greatness (which none of them really had).
I would have to agree with you on the Erykah Badu statement. Definitely an album worth being recognized but somehow being missed on a lot of lists. I am also sad to see the exclusion of Four Tet’s great album, “There Is Love In You.” Definitely an album worth being recognized for its accomplishments as well.
Unfortunately, we can’t all get what we want, but definitely think the albums on this list are great and worth being praised.
It’s not just a love of the bands. I love Spoon, but can see why Transference was left off this list.
Another way to look at it is maybe these albums were left the list because they didn’t live up to the standards set by those bands in the past, which would be as unfair as complaining about a lack of a band because you liked their old stuff. False Priest was no Hissing Fauna, but I would still place it above Small Black’s album (which I enjoyed quite a bit).
I can see your point completely. People are carrying over their expectations of what they should be hearing from their masterpieces in past years, hoping that their new releases sound that way. What people don’t get is that usually there is a progression of artistic experimentation within an artist and their sounds definitely change as they become exposed to different opportunities. Anyways, I don’t disagree that False Priest was good nor do I disagree that the Spoon album or any of the others that were missed were great, I just don’t think that they provided anything new, refreshing, or innovative to the progression of music. I think a lot of it was just a rehash of their past musical styles with a little bump up, but not much difference. A lot of it was actually stuff I was expecting to hear, which is why I enjoyed many of these albums, but wasn’t blown away by them.
In your instance, by saying that False Priest should be above Small Black (I think by saying one album should be above the number 49 ranked album) really doesn’t make a huge difference. But to include something like False Priest, of any of those other albums in the top 10, or even in the top 20, would be ridiculous as there was so much better “art” / “music” out there this year.
You kind of lost me at the end there. I feel like one of your of’s should have been an or, and it got me a little confused.
Are you saying it would be ridiculous to include any other the other albums by older artists (Spoon/Belle and Sebastian/Of Montreal/etc.) in the top 10/20? I fully get what your saying. Obviously there’s no universal way for people to compare or rate music. Cake’s been putting out consistently fantastic music for years that pretty much all sounds the same. For some people, that’s great. For others, they would rather hear something new and different, even if it means that album is little rougher around the edges. And I understand (and respect) Stereogum’s goal of bringing us the best new music there is. Which is probably why this list reads more like the Top 50 Albums by New/Up and Coming Acts.
That’s not a bad thing. Overall it’s a baller thing. But you still have old acts, like Vampire Weekend, who did little to nothing different on their second album, other than make it slightly less good. And if that’s gonna fly as the #7 album of the year, I think Gorillaz/No Age did enough different on their albums, and merit inclusion in the top of the list for that and overall album quality.
the besnard lakes album was awesome, a top 10 for me. also, i love how your picture is curious george and you start with “I am curious…”
It was about damn time Matthew Dear was mentioned. Amazing album. Haven’t listened to Klavierwerke yet. Is it any good?
Damn I mixed Matthew Dear with James Blake. Sorry… I’m on finals, bear with me.
you son of a bitch
ok, I had it coming.
Wow, I just scrolled through 5 minutes of “where is?! where is?!”.
Me too. Where is the asinine, poorly reasoned venom and vitriol I expect from internet comments?!?