First Top Ten of 2010

After about a month away first due to lists, then an unfortunate mishap, I'm back. It's not often I feel kicked in the teeth by greatness, and this week it happened a bunch.

1. "Odd Blood" by Yeasayer
I've never big a big fan, I put them in the same category as Radiohead and TV on the Radio, lots of hype. I was sadly mistaken. This album is damn near flawless and even has me rethinking certain aspects of electronic music. Ground shaking. "Ambling Alp" may have a weird video with naked people being chased by a guy with a mirror face and sparkly goo people being born, but it is undeniably catchy. This is good enough to buy the vinyl, and I get sent this stuff for free. That's saying something. Most played: "Ambling Alp", "Madder Red", and "ONE"

2. "Questamation" by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker
I wanted this to be tops, but has some weak spots, unlike Odd Blood. Then again this is a debut... "Neurochemical Warfare Gas Masquerade" is definitely on my "pump me up" list. I resist the urge to dance even writing this, plus "When my laundry is through I will tumble" is a wonderful line. Think dance/house music sung by a 90s alt/grunge act. Or Sense Field meets The Faint. Most played: "Neurochemical Warfare Gas Masquerade", "Cloudboy", and "Visionary Science Patrol"

3. "My Dinosaur Life" by Motion City Soundtrack
My personal bias for them notwithstanding, this album moves. I'm not really big on the lack of synth breakdowns, but album flows better without. Justin staccato vocals are just so damn fun, I forget that he's even swearing. "Disappear" was my song of 2009, and this album lives up to lead single. Even the slow songs seem fast. Most Played: "Disappear", "Delirium", and "A Lifeless Ordinary (Need A Little Help)"

4. "Lever L'ancre" by Alfa Rococo
I recently got a whole bunch of French music from Quebec. Totally worth the 2 weeks it took to get here. Beautiful walking music, ideally in a city with snow, but either is fine. Sometimes is verges toward cafe music, but steers clear of those pitfalls. They let the lyrics grow and then trim them back with an instrumental. It's been a long time since I heard such perfect use of a bridge. And like many male-female singers there clearly a fit, in this case when Justine takes the lead and David backs her. Most played: "Les Jours De Pluie", "Je Pense À Toi", and "Horribles Gens"

5. "The Fame Monster" by Lady Gaga
I want to dislike this, but she definitely has talent. She may be a bit insane (I blame the coke) but she can make good pop music. The lead single "Bad Romance" even has a verse in French. In a lot of ways it sounds like mid-70s ABBA was transported to 2009. A marked change from songs like "Boys Boys Boys" and a disco stick. There is palpable emotion here, even if it is hidden behind layers of production and a vocoder. I hope she sticks with this new turn. Most played: "Monster", "Bad Romance", and "So Happy I Could Die"

6. "No Really, I'm Fine" by The Spill Canvas
I sometimes forget this is an emo album from an emo band. It feels more forlorn than sad, though there is a tinge of anger in the vocals. And "Connect the Dots" is among my favorite love songs ever. Most played: "Battles", "Connect the Dots", and "Reckless Abandonment"

7. "The Bachelor" by Patrick Wolf
The most recent offering from the English wunderkid. Sounds like Morrissey singing over a symphony that brought in daft punk for some parts. Most Played: "Oblivion" (album in 3:23), "Damaris", and "The Messenger"

8. "Third Eye Blind" by Third Eye Blind
Never noticed how good the non-singles are here. Most played: "The Background", "Burning Man", and "Jumper" (any mention of this album must include this song, I'm pretty sure it's a law.)

I rarely write about album failure, but sometimes it's needed. So these two round out the list

9. "Heligoland" by Massive Attack
It's not a good sign when a reviewer gets bored, and more so when they get upset at you for wasting their time. This album is an example of this effect.

10. "Heartland" by Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett changed his name from Final Fantasy and went from someone who "Poos Clouds" (his debut) to someone who just takes a shit all over a disc and calls it music. The former even won the inaugural Polaris Music for artistic achievement in Canadian. THAT album is brilliant. Then again, it was 5 years and some people are one hit wonders. THIS album is forgettable in about every, I had to remind myself who I was listening to.

Honorable Mention: "This Addiction" by Alkaline Trio
I got a couple tracks from their new album, not enough for a proper place, but it's good. The title track "This Addiction" uses heroin addiction as a metaphor for love, something so brilliant I wonder why no one did it sooner. "The American Scream" reminds me of "Warbrain" from the Rock Against Bush comp. "Off The Map" has a definite Good Mourning feel to it, but I was really hoping for "Dine, Dine My Darling". When I saw them live in May that was my favorite.

Next week look for new stuff from Vampire Weekend and Ok Go among others.