Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Nothing But Our Love |
“Nothing But Our Love” is the kind of song that stops you, reels in your attention, and insists: “stop worrying and rela…
“Nothing But Our Love” is the kind of song that stops you, reels in your attention, and insists: “stop worrying and relax”. That’s a grossly subjective statement and should probably be completely disregarded. Just listen to it and I promise you’ll forget you were even annoyed at me.
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Wild Nothing
Gemini |
One-man band Wild Nothing – Blacksburg’s Jack Tatum – is one of 2010′s noteworthy success stories. The project is barel…
One-man band Wild Nothing – Blacksburg’s Jack Tatum – is one of 2010′s noteworthy success stories. The project is barely a year old, but Jack’s first album, Gemini, was voted a top 50 album by both Amazon and Pitchfork, among others. The music’s sound consistently captures the tones and moods of classic New Wave, while occasionally leaning toward more contemporary synth pop. It may not sound like it, but all the vocals are Jack’s.
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Two Door Cinema Club
Something Good Can Work |
Hailing from Ireland, youngsters Two Door Cinema Club have quickly gotten a taste of being rock stars after their very s…
Hailing from Ireland, youngsters Two Door Cinema Club have quickly gotten a taste of being rock stars after their very successful, US-tour-prompting debut album on Kitsuné, Tourist History. “Something Good Can Work” is just one of a handful of radio-worthy hits from a band I’m deeming 2010′s Phoenix. |
Sufjan Stevens
I Walked |
Listening to “I Walked” is a reminder of the songwriting brilliance of Sufjan, who seems far from hitting his peak. Thi…
Listening to “I Walked” is a reminder of the songwriting brilliance of Sufjan, who seems far from hitting his peak. This song is exceptional by most any criterion we test it against. Like most of the songs on Age of Adz, “I Walked” is a conspicuously emotional track.
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Candy Claws
Sun Arrow |
Candy Claws songs all bear a distinct sound, but what’s amazing is that it’s truly unique. “Sun Arrow”, like the other …
Candy Claws songs all bear a distinct sound, but what’s amazing is that it’s truly unique. “Sun Arrow”, like the other songs on the album, weaves together many layers of reverby synths and whispered lyrics. The mood is dreamy in a theatrical sense – every moment of listening to Candy Claws feels like living in a fairy tale.
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The Black Keys
Everlasting Light |
The Black Keys are in a league of their own in the world of blues rock. I still have to remind myself that I’m listenin…
The Black Keys are in a league of their own in the world of blues rock. I still have to remind myself that I’m listening to two white guys. Their celebrated album in 2010, Brothers is full of plenty of hits. We’re giving the opening track, “Everlasting Light”, the nod in this year’s list.
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Crystal Stilts
Shake The Shackles |
Coming off a well-receive album, Alight of Night in 2009, this noise pop group from NY drummed up some more criti…
Coming off a well-receive album, Alight of Night in 2009, this noise pop group from NY drummed up some more critical praise with the release of this single.
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Toro Y Moi
Talamak |
Toro y Moi is a real-life friend of Washed Out’s Ernest Greene, who has been often been credited as one of the originato…
Toro y Moi is a real-life friend of Washed Out’s Ernest Greene, who has been often been credited as one of the originators of the chillwave movement. Toro y Moi’s sound bears the accompanying descriptions, distinguishing itself with an increase in glitchy edits and production accents. “Talamak” is a very accessible track for anyone tolerant of chillwave (the music–not the word). Footnote: He has another album due out any day now.
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Tame Impala
I Don’t Really Mind |
Tame Impala has quickly become one of the most recognizable names on this list. Their debut album Innerspeaker w…
Tame Impala has quickly become one of the most recognizable names on this list. Their debut album Innerspeaker was a tremendous success for the Austrialian band, with a sound that has drawn comparisons to–the Beatles!? Sure, we can hear it, but this probably means they’re going to die in a bus crash. Or kangaroo trampling? I can’t think of a better Aussie joke. In closing, listen to their music, it’s pretty good.
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The Morning Benders
Excuses |
We have attributed many songs on this list as sounding “retro” or “nostalgic”, but no song seems more deserving of that …
We have attributed many songs on this list as sounding “retro” or “nostalgic”, but no song seems more deserving of that description than “Excuses” by the Morning Benders. Feels like senior prom in the 1950s, but I might be way off, I wasn’t there.
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Caribou
Odessa |
I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of properly reviewing this track. Simply be aware that this was the most wid…
I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility of properly reviewing this track. Simply be aware that this was the most widely embraced single from Caribou’s critically acclaimed album, Swim. It’s a funky, dance-friendly, psychedelic track with far more subtlety than what I can communicate in a few sentences. The sound waves are better at explaining than me–give the song a spin, below.
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Vampire Weekend
Giving Up the Gun |
Vampire Weekend had raised their own bar almost too high for their sophomore album, Contra, but songs like “Givin…
Vampire Weekend had raised their own bar almost too high for their sophomore album, Contra, but songs like “Giving Up the Gun” support the case that Ezra & company didn’t lose a step. Wish we could say the same for MGMT (whose bar was probably higher, in fairness).
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Laurel Halo
Supersymmetry |
Laurel Halo became somewhat of an “it-girl” in the Brooklyn club scene, helped by the success of “Supersymmetry”, a song…
Laurel Halo became somewhat of an “it-girl” in the Brooklyn club scene, helped by the success of “Supersymmetry”, a song that channels the spirit of 1980s club music. Whether 80s club music actually sounds like this isn’t something I know. But I hope it does.
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Grasscut
Muppets (Nathan Fake remix) |
Nathan Fake layers his signature knob-twisting brushstrokes onto Grasscut’s “Muppets”, Nathan’s only release from this y…
Nathan Fake layers his signature knob-twisting brushstrokes onto Grasscut’s “Muppets”, Nathan’s only release from this year. But it’s a good one, rich with high-atmosphere synth tones over a horse clopping of house kicks. Endless ride cymbals give the feeling of constant climax.
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School of Seven Bells
Half Asleep |
If you’re a guy in a band in New York, leave that band and find yourself a chick or two to collaborate with. This has b…
If you’re a guy in a band in New York, leave that band and find yourself a chick or two to collaborate with. This has been a popular formula in the last 5 years, giving birth to new blends of electronically influenced indie music. School of Seven Bells fits into this description, and there was no better example of their dreamy indie pop than “Half Asleep”.
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Wavves
Post Acid |
Wavves certainly deserves a few on this list, and choosing just one was a bit challenging. “Post Acid” seems to capture …
Wavves certainly deserves a few on this list, and choosing just one was a bit challenging. “Post Acid” seems to capture both the sound and spirit of the album. While still noisy, some critics thought the guys cleaned up their sound too much. Bah. We would insist that the accessible hooks on King of the Beach are a nice break from the flood of fuzzy noise rock/pop that’s become popular the past couple years.
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Twin Sister
Phenomenons |
“Phenomenons” is an especially vibrant single from Long Islanders Twin Sister. Guitars and keyboards measure out a slow…
“Phenomenons” is an especially vibrant single from Long Islanders Twin Sister. Guitars and keyboards measure out a slow jam somewhat in contrast to a energetic, snare-led synth beat. The singer sounds like she’s wearing a nose clip when she hits lower notes, but we can get past it.
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Crocodiles
Hearts of Love |
Be sure to hang on till around 2:30 when the song blooms with a bittersweet Weezer anthem. Very much in the spirit of S…
Be sure to hang on till around 2:30 when the song blooms with a bittersweet Weezer anthem. Very much in the spirit of Surfer Blood’s “Swim”.
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Tanlines
Real Life (Memory Tapes remix) |
Apparently the members of Tanlines have backgrounds in completely different, heavier styles of music. You’d never guess…
Apparently the members of Tanlines have backgrounds in completely different, heavier styles of music. You’d never guess it listening to their album, characterized by Caribbean moods and soft synth soundscapes. Their album was very successful among “indie” circles, as supported by a crop of remixes that popped up this year. Tanlines vs Memory Tapes is an intriguing combination, and the result doesn’t disappoint.
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Sleigh Bells
Infinity Guitars |
We’ve been a little biased in reporting Sleigh Bells because they are sorta tied to FL. Derek Miller, one half o…
We’ve been a little biased in reporting Sleigh Bells because they are sorta tied to FL. Derek Miller, one half of the band, left FL for Brooklyn (noooo) and found Alexis, who would become the pop-friendly voice singing behind Derek’s soundwall of distortion and bass. “Infinity Guitars” fits this standard Sleigh Bells description, with an especially explosive finish.
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Yeasayer
Ambling Alp |
If you’ve heard Yeasayer, you know it’s tough to pin them to one genre; the band once described their music as “Middle E…
If you’ve heard Yeasayer, you know it’s tough to pin them to one genre; the band once described their music as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel”. Sure. Although their sound is constantly evolving and full of surprises, one staple you can really on is spirited singing from Chris Keating (which you can find in Ambling Alp).
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Domo Genesis
Super Market [Ft. Ace Creator) |
Domo Genesis, part of the under-20 rap crew "Odd Future", teams up with the now-infamous Tyler the Creator for a rap bat…
Domo Genesis, part of the under-20 rap crew "Odd Future", teams up with the now-infamous Tyler the Creator for a rap battle about cutting in line at the grocery store. It's nice to see some levity from the Cali crew known for shocking rap delivered with an Internet troll's apathy, but this doesn't mean you won't get the wind knocked out of you by a few coarse lines.
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Tobacco
Motorlicker |
Tom Fec, a.k.a., Tobacco, is a man to watch. He is most famous for being the frontman of Black Moth Super Rainbow. That said, his personal project Tobacco bears all the dreamy synths and ambient vocals you might expect, but also tests edgier, more hip-hop influenced sounds with Tobacco. "Motorlicker" lays on thick, raspy synths and a heavy beat, eventually rewarding listeners with that pleasant BMSR synths that make for a wonderful contrast of light and dark. |
Marnie Stern
Transparency Is The New Mystery |
Marnie Stern teamed up with drummer/producer Zach Hill (Hella) this year to produce a frenetic, progressive album filled…
Marnie Stern teamed up with drummer/producer Zach Hill (Hella) this year to produce a frenetic, progressive album filled with noisy verses. Marnie's fret-tapping guitar work mixed with Zach's trademark drum chaos makes for busy songs that can reward discerning ears. "Transparency Is The New Mystery" offers one of the more distinct and emotional choruses from Marnie's album. No crazy guitar shreds on this one, though.
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Lemonade
Lifted |
Warning: The following description reads like a parody of other reviews here: "Lemonade is a Brooklyn-via-San Francisco...
Warning: The following description reads like a parody of other reviews here: "Lemonade is a Brooklyn-via-San Francisco band that earned acclaim for their 5-track debut Pure Moods in 2010. "Lifted" clomps along with relentlessly tropical vibes--like, steel drums tropical--along with a curious assortment of fun sound effects. The vocalist sings somewhat dramatically against a relative bare backdrop, in the style of fellow Brooklyn performers Yeasayer."
What can I say? The colorful/danceable/Brooklyn stuff was a huge influence on indie music in 2010.
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The Gaslamp Killer
Carpool Dummy |
LA's Gaslamp Killer has been gaslamp killing it the last couple years, but hit a new tier in 2010, thanks in part to the…
LA's Gaslamp Killer has been gaslamp killing it the last couple years, but hit a new tier in 2010, thanks in part to the collective momentum of the west coast beats scene (Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing, Daedelus, Tokimonsta, etc). "Carpool Dummy" hits hard with a palette composed almost entirely of glitched up drums.
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Washed Out (ft. Caroline Polacheck)
You and I |
For everyone who fell in love with Washed Out's archetypal chillwave music in 2009, here's a 2010 single that you may've…
For everyone who fell in love with Washed Out's archetypal chillwave music in 2009, here's a 2010 single that you may've missed. Similar to their super hit, "Feel It Around", "You and I" bumps along with a danceable beat, ambience everywhere, and restlessly arpeggiating synths. Hang on until 3:00 for Caroline's sexy cameo.
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Broken Social Scene
World Sick |
While it's unclear from the lyrics, it's tempting to believe "World Sick" relates to exhaustion of a band known for its …
While it's unclear from the lyrics, it's tempting to believe "World Sick" relates to exhaustion of a band known for its endless tours. Regardless the meaning, a big, splashy chorus warmly embodies the sounds of Canadian indie rock (reminder: BSS is a supergroup of Canadian bands/musicians)
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Frank (Just Frank)
Die in Bed |
Frank (Just) Frank are French (Actually) French, which helps further authenticate their adept revival of the post-punk m…
Frank (Just) Frank are French (Actually) French, which helps further authenticate their adept revival of the post-punk microgenre "coldwave". (____)wave guitar tones, labored mumblings, and dark choral ambience are happily disrupted by peppy drum machines and optimistic guitar licks in this darkly--(excellently)--titled track.
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Tennis
Marathon |
Tennis, a husband-wife duo, formed after the two spent nearly a year sailing the Eastern seaboard. As the story goes, i…
Tennis, a husband-wife duo, formed after the two spent nearly a year sailing the Eastern seaboard. As the story goes, it was only during that trip that the couple learned the depth of each other's musical interest/talent, and promptly began recording upon return. The result is masterful mimicry of the doo-wop girl music of the 1950s, filled with maritime stories from the couple's time at sea. How fun.
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The Love Language
Heart To Tell |
With "Heart To Tell", The Love Language has found the sweet spot between pop folk and indie pop, creating their own bran…
With "Heart To Tell", The Love Language has found the sweet spot between pop folk and indie pop, creating their own brand of cheerful rock and roll that drops the big chorus right when you're ready for it.
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Woodsman
Insects |
Woodsman came on strong toward the end of 2010 with the release of a handful of excellent singles from their upcoming al…
Woodsman came on strong toward the end of 2010 with the release of a handful of excellent singles from their upcoming album. These woodsmen (of Colorado) roll with reverbed, psychedelic guitars, washed out vocals, and steady (real) drum work.
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Teengirl Fantasy
Floor To Floor |
Teengirl Fantasy has not even released a full length LP yet, but has generated a lot of buzz with the EPs and demos they…
Teengirl Fantasy has not even released a full length LP yet, but has generated a lot of buzz with the EPs and demos they released in 2010. "Floor to Floor" kicks heavily with a mixture of whorling synths and dreamy vocal samples. Similar to Pictureplane, but there's a little more finesse in the production. This American duo of college students is currently studying abroad in Amsterdam. Jealous!
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Radiohead
Reckoner (Nosaj Thing Remix) |
Remixes are often a cheap strategy for piggybacking off of the success of someone else's song, but occasionally someone …
Remixes are often a cheap strategy for piggybacking off of the success of someone else's song, but occasionally someone comes along that understands how to create a fresh work (via remix) without completely overriding the aesthetic of the original song. West Coast beatsmith Nosaj Thing has been winning at remixes all year, none better than his surgical reanimation of Radiohead's "Reckoner".
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Air
Sing Sang Sung (Black Moth Super Rainbow Remix) |
Air's 2009 song-to-hanglide-to, ""Sing Sang Sung"", was the lucky recipient of Black Moth Super Rainbow's remix treatment …
Air's 2009 song-to-hanglide-to, ""Sing Sang Sung"", was the lucky recipient of Black Moth Super Rainbow's remix treatment earlier this year. The result is an irresistible static-splashed daydream interrupted occasionally by a noisy reinterpretation of the title hook.
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The Drums
Let's Go Surfing |
In a year full of surfy music, this takes the trophy for "Surf Song of the Year". It even has whistling in it.…
In a year full of surfy music, this takes the trophy for "Surf Song of the Year". It even has whistling in it.
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TV Girl
If You Want It |
Jingling bells gently gallop along to funk-sampled drums as San Diego duo TV Girl sings a familiar story about that one …
Jingling bells gently gallop along to funk-sampled drums as San Diego duo TV Girl sings a familiar story about that one ex that still manipulates you (but you're sort of OK with it).
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The Radio Dept.
Heaven's On Fire |
Secretly rock veterans, The Radio Dept. dropped what may be their most acclaimed album yet in 2010. "Heaven's On Fire" …
Secretly rock veterans, The Radio Dept. dropped what may be their most acclaimed album yet in 2010. "Heaven's On Fire" delivers the brightness you expect from Swedish indie rockers, though frontman's Elin vocals remain subdued and introspective.
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Joanna Newsom
Good Intentions Paving Company |
Joanna released yet another monumental album in 2010, 2 discs' worth of Newsom's intricate songwriting and storytelling.…
Joanna released yet another monumental album in 2010, 2 discs' worth of Newsom's intricate songwriting and storytelling. "Good Intentions Paving Company" offers more than the usual harp serenade, as an assortment of instruments combine to weave an uplifting, folksy tale. Joanna trades in the harp for the piano on this one.
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Letherette
In July Focus |
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Bonobo
Black Sands |
The title track from Bonobo's breakout album in early 2010, "Black Sands" oozes somber moods and themes of transition to…
The title track from Bonobo's breakout album in early 2010, "Black Sands" oozes somber moods and themes of transition toward new and better times. The listening experience is more satisfying when you consider that Bonobo (Simon Green) tours with a complement of a half dozen musicians who bring his songs to life.
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The Babies
Run Me Over |
When asked "Where can I find more music like Wavves?" (people really ask this), I point them toward this band. It's a s…
When asked "Where can I find more music like Wavves?" (people really ask this), I point them toward this band. It's a side project of one of the Vivian Girls, continuing in the spirit of their punk moods with the usual lo-fi garage sound.
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Girl Unit
Wut |
Girl Unit's "Wut" seemed to penetrate several electronic subcultures in 2010, a rogue hit that would eventually get rele…
Girl Unit's "Wut" seemed to penetrate several electronic subcultures in 2010, a rogue hit that would eventually get released via label. The track successfully blends crunk rhythms, spooky synths, and edited R&B samples, making for a surprisingly salient dancefloor hit.
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Seapony
Dreaming |
As its title support, "Dreaming" is an ethereal song that showcases the nostalgic girl pop that drew listeners to Seapon…
As its title support, "Dreaming" is an ethereal song that showcases the nostalgic girl pop that drew listeners to Seapony in 2010. Fans of Tennis will likely appreciate their sound.
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Flying Lotus
Zodiac Shit |
One of many standout tracks from psych-IDM wizard Flying Lotus (Warp). Cool mini-video here. |
Gumar and His Magical Midi Band
Sliding Down Rainbows (The Great Mundane remix) |
Portland's self-deprecating beatmaker, The Great Mundane, dolls up a playful song from...
Portland's self-deprecating beatmaker, The Great Mundane, dolls up a playful song from local (but otherwise unknown) Gumar and his Magical Midi Band. We love the song for its blend of chippy high synths, gritty bass, and lighthearted lyrics. Very danceable despite a sluggish tempo.
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Chloé Lacasse
Les yeux d'un fou |
Attn francophiles: Listening to Chloé Lacasse in "Les yeux d'un fou" is like listening to a songbird effortlessly...
Attn francophiles: Listening to Chloé Lacasse in "Les yeux d'un fou" is like listening to a songbird effortlessly slalom through familiar melodies. Some very pleasant indie pop from abroad.
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Shigeto
Sky of the Revolution |
In 2010, Michigan's Shigeto, a.k.a. Zach Saginaw, released a standout album with Ghostly International, Full Circle...
In 2010, Michigan's Shigeto, a.k.a. Zach Saginaw, released a standout album with Ghostly International, Full Circle. Zach's music is richly layered, bright hip hop with IDM accents (headphones matter on "Sky of the Revolution").
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The Bank Holidays
Tripping Up To Fall In Love |
If the Bank Holidays weren't on the other side of the earth--Perth, Australia--we'd probably all know who they are by no…
If the Bank Holidays weren't on the other side of the earth--Perth, Australia--we'd probably all know who they are by now. "Tripping Up To Fall In Love", like many of their songs, bears the markings of the band's influences (The Shins, Belle and Sebastian, Peter Bjorn and John). Give it a listen to enjoy some mellow, polished indie rock.
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Weekends
Poor Piscies |
Poor Piscies [sic…] is an anthemic single from SF-based garage rockers Weekends. Somewhere under wild guitars there are…
Poor Piscies [sic…] is an anthemic single from SF-based garage rockers Weekends. Somewhere under wild guitars there are human murmurings and big kick drums. A fun track that ends too quickly at 2:04.
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Zola Jesus
Sea Talk |
Soulful words and soaring synths make for a pleasing ballad from this American youngster who attracted attention after t…
Soulful words and soaring synths make for a pleasing ballad from this American youngster who attracted attention after touring with Fever Ray. Her lowish voice and near inimitable composition style make her music remarkably unique, though ‘Sea Talk’ seems to be the album winner for its passionate chorus.
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HEALTH
We Are Water |
“We Are Water” starts with a furious pace and pulls you along on a splashy noise jam that provokes a variety of moods wi…
“We Are Water” starts with a furious pace and pulls you along on a splashy noise jam that provokes a variety of moods with shrill guitars and ominous synths.
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Delorean
Real Love |
Delorean is back in 2010 with a full length album released at the beginning of the year. In “Real Love”, dreamy dance m…
Delorean is back in 2010 with a full length album released at the beginning of the year. In “Real Love”, dreamy dance music seduces with an up-pitched “ooh-ah” loop that rallies some club kicks to go along with an enchanting blend of echoey soft-rock toms and jingly synths.
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Surfer Blood
Swim |
Being a Florida blog, we beam with pride whenever it’s time to talk about Surfer Blood. The South Florida youngsters ha…
Being a Florida blog, we beam with pride whenever it’s time to talk about Surfer Blood. The South Florida youngsters have rapidly garnered national esteem for their debut album, Astro Coast. No single was bigger than “Swim”, which actually hit the web in 2009 (and landed them a spot in Pitchfork’s top 100). This song just piles on the power pop anthem juice, making it a pretty irresistible listen.
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Siriusmo
Einmal In Der Woche Schreien |
Siriusmo has been flying somewhat under the radar, but those in-the-know in the electro-house scene have kept their eyes…
Siriusmo has been flying somewhat under the radar, but those in-the-know in the electro-house scene have kept their eyes on this DJ. “Einmal In Der Woche Schreien” pumps along with frenetic energy and carefully sliced samples. Fun fact: “electro-house” is neither electro or house music. Discuss!
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Tyler, The Creator
Seven |
How the hell is this dude 18? Tyler (one of the rapper’s in the Domo Genesis song also on this list) sounds like a gnar…
How the hell is this dude 18? Tyler (one of the rapper’s in the Domo Genesis song also on this list) sounds like a gnarled rap veteran. He raps like, it too. “Seven” hits hard but offers loungy stretches that bring Tyler’s vicious lyrics to the forefront.
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James Blake
The Bells Sketch |
“The Bells Sketch” is a fine example of buzz-producer (and proper Englishman) James Blake. The 21-year-old demonstrates…
“The Bells Sketch” is a fine example of buzz-producer (and proper Englishman) James Blake. The 21-year-old demonstrates masterful use of negative space to create a suspenseful, haunting soundscape littered with scraps of repitched R&B and meticulously mastered synth accents. Also check out his popular cover of Feist’s “Limit to Your Love” featuring his own vocal work.
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