I try to keep up with what’s new musically but this is the first year I’ve actually sat down and hammered out an actual “top 10″ list. It was trickier than I thought it would be. I’m bummed I didn’t get any hip hop on the list. I love the beats but nothing I got this year, including: Diverse’s “One A.M.”, Lyrics Born’s “Later That Day…” and Prince Paul’s “Politics of The Business” really grabbed me. Those three, and others, will all contibute to my year end hip-hop mix even though they don’t rate a top ten entry. I didn’t even have room for Speakerboxx/The Love Below, and that has some amazing songs on it.
Keep in mind that this is just a list of what I heard. There are some albums that I wanted to get to but didn’t because I ran out of year. So there will be no Decemberists, Postal Service, Cat Power, Basement Jaxx, My Morning Jacket, or Death Cab for Cutie. I’m sure all of those are terrific but they won’t make the list here because I haven’t heard them. I will try harder next year. In most cases I’ve linked to the Metacritic page for the album. If they don’t have one of those I’ve linked their Allmusic.com entry.
This is the part where I urge you to check out all of the albums on this list. So, check them out. Well, on to the list…
1. White Stripes - Elephant - This is an important album and a modern classic that will earn the White Stripes a spot in rock history. I know that sounds cheesy but I believe that in 10 years “Elephant” will still sound fresh; like some Jimi Hendrix or Doors does today. Highlights include “Seven Nation Army” with its mesmerizing intro and “I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart” where Jack White nails the sadness of the hated boyfriend.
2. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak - This was a cold-buy on my part, I didn’t know Ted Leo from Adam. Now he’s my hero. I read from some TL/P fans that he had a new album coming out and that it was going to be top-shelf. Then I caught him on tour (my first rock show in years. Hi Jon!) and was wowed by him in person. There are some classic hooks on this album and the title cut is one of the best songs I heard all year. Ted Leo is a winner. Highlights include: “Hearts of Oak” an awesome, awesome song that everyone should hear and “Where have All The Rude Boys Gone?”, which sports an all-time hook that will get stuck on your head for weeks.
3. Shins - Chutes Too Narrow - This was a late-in-the-year find for me. I caught the hookup from a friend of mine and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. There are still some songs in the vein of their last, excellent album, but there are some more uptempo (and loud) songs here too. Again, it’s more solid pop songs for the best of list. Highlights include “So Says I”, one of the louder rockers and “Young Pilgrim” a sad-sounding (but it’s not), quiet song that is utterly brilliant.
4. New Pornographers - Electric Version - This album is overflowing with the hooks and sing-along pop songs that made Mass Romantic such a treat. Neko Case is a vocal force and the rest of the band is pretty damn good, too. Highlights include: “All For Swinging You Around”, which has a brilliant video and “From Blown Speakers”.
5. Pernice Brothers - Yours, Mine & Ours - You cannot go wrong with Joe Pernice. I have Jack Rabid at The Big Takeover to thank for turning me on to Pernice and now you have me to thank for turning you on to him. Trust me. Highlights here include: “The Weakest Shade of Blue”, a classic Pernice pop gem, and “Sometimes I Remember”, which is 2:45 of magic. Next year I’m giving everyone a Pernice Brothers album for Christmas.
6. Holly Golightly - Truly She Is None Other - Although she’s been around forver I only knew her from her cameos on other bands’ albums. She sang on Rocket From The Crypt’s “R.F.T.C.” and I thought she sounded cool. Then she showed up on The Greehornes’ “Dual Mono” where I thought she sounded terrific. The song on “Dual Mono” is ‘Gonna get me Someone’ and it’s an absolute blast. Of course, she’s gotten a good amount of justified attention because she appeared on The White Stripes’ “Elephant”. “Truly She Is…” sounds like a girl group album from another decade, and I love it. Highlights include:”Time Will Tell”, a terrific Kinks cover, and “You Have Yet To Win”, a great kiss-off song.
7. Black Keys - Thickfreakness - I am down with the blues but I want to feel like it’s something I can do. When I see two white kids from Ohio wailing and whooping and hammering out the raw blues, well, I’m a fan. It’s all straight blues, no monkeying around with adding some blues to a pop song or anything silly like that. Highlights: “No Trust” about that ‘damn woman’, and “Have Love Will Travel”, a blues standard that shows off this duo’s chops. Good stuff.
8. The Darkness - Permission to Land - Ah, the album my wife has been waiting 20 years for. This is an album of pop songs, really, but they are dressed up with every sweet 80’s metal lick in the book. The singer hits notes that will wake up your dog and the metal riffs and hooks will lodge themselves in your head for weeks. Highlights: “I Believe In A Thing Called Love”, with a video (broadband only) that will have you rolling, and “Get Your Hands Off Of My Woman”, with the best-ever singing of a swear word.
9. Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers - This is another band I was late to. I should have known this would be good when I first saw the “Stacey’s Mom” video. This is just fun music with super hooks and really funny lyrics. Highlights include: “Bright Future In Sales”, which *may* be loosely based on my life, and “Hackensack”, a hysterical song about a boy who’s willing to wait.
10. Kingsbury Manx - Aztec Discpline - The number 10 spot will forever be an album by a band I love. The Kingsbury Manx are just a fine band from North Carolina who make some of the prettiest music I’ve ever heard. The quiet, multi-part vocals are the real draw but the layers of dreamy guitar keep me coming back. Highlights include “De-Da Dementia” and “Pinstripes”. Wow, good stuff.
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