Best of 2010: Albums...

So, like last year, I will do two music lists. One for best albums and another for best songs. I've gotten really bad at blogging. 3 blogs last month? Who am I? What am I doing that keeps me so busy or am I just too lazy to post? These are the burning questions that keep me up at night. That and sugar. I try not to have sugar past 6 or 7pm. My brain can't take the stimulation. Anyway, here were my favorite albums of the year. I couldn't decide on 10 so "mine goes to 11."


11.) She & Him: Volume 2
A great follow up to Volume 1. Not as many perfectly mood fitting songs, but Zooey's voice touches me somewhere only Tom Hanks, Wes Anderson and that one really awkward but amazing scene in Good Will Hunting can.

10.) The Roots - Wake Up!
Wake up indeed. This was the most refreshing thing to come from the roots since their live album which contained Seed featuring Cody Chesnutt. That song was great. So is this album. The best beats they've had since Things Fall Apart and that was over 12 years ago.

9.) Taylor Swift - Speak Now
Most of you who know me well will be wondering why this is ranked so far down my list. To be honest, I've refrained from listening to the album too much because I'm not ready to drive around with my windows down singing with all of my heart. I'll re-evaluate post Spring but for now rest assured that my love for her is as unwavering as ever.


8.) Jack Johnson - To The Sea
He may have peaked with In Between Dreams, but To The Sea is nothing to shake your fist at. Packed with enough songs for me to want to sing along with and enough to make me wish I was better at both piano and guitar to keep me feeling like Spring all Winter long.

7.) J. Cole - Friday Night Lights
Though this was just a mixtape and not an actual album, I couldn't leave him off the list. Punchrhymes introduced me to J. Cole last Spring and he's already risen to be easily one of my top ten favorite hip hop artists of all time.



6.) Eminem - Recovery
Changed from The Relapse 2 to Recovery, Eminem surely knew what he was talking about when he named this album. I'm sure you've all heard the album and agree with me. It's awesome. A mature Slim Shady who isn't relying on gimmicks or shock factor is a serious force to be reckoned with.

5.) Girl Talk - All Night
My initial response to the album was that it wasn't as 'hype' as the last three, but I gotta say, the more I listen to it, the more I love it. With the exception of the Wiz Khalifa mash-up, he improved on every beat to every song he sampled which is saying quite a lot.


4.) Vampire Weekend - Contra
I'm not sure which I like more, this or their first album, but that in itself is a feat. I love Vampire Weekend. Every track on this album is perfect except for one, the name of which escapes me right now.

3.) Josh Ritter - So Runs The World Away
If you don't listen to Josh Ritter, he's pretty much the gateway into folk-rock. Through him, my eyes have been opened to some of my folk favorites including, Blind Pilot, Joe Pug and Slow Club. All of these bands are worth checking out and this album, if you haven't heard him before, will be your new favorite.



2.) Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I'm surely going to catch Hell for not making this my number one, but number 2 ain't to shabby either. It's got some of the best songs of the year, and a return to the great music he hasn't done since 2007 with Graduation. This album is amazing and really could have gone number 1.

1.) Kid Rock - Born Free
Kid Rock? Really? I know what you're thinking, but you clearly haven't listened to the whole album. I'm obsessed with this album. Kid Rock has left behind any semblance he ever had to the flashy late 90s sound he had, and has wholeheartedly embraced a sound that makes him the heir to great Michigan rockers like Bob Seger. Part country, part rock, he really captures something here and maybe you have to have as wide ranging a musical palate as I do, but he really fucking nailed it.



Anyway, that's it. Sorry for the delay on this. Top ten songs coming up shortly (I hope).

Go big.

-M, p, z & shredder

ps - Other Guy is 31 today. Shit man, that dude is old.

pps - I've been a bad blogger these last few months but I'm trying to get back in the groove. I'm going to go for my goal from a couple years ago which was something like 28 blogs for February. I've got a few to make up but I'm gonna shoot for the moon here.