my heart's beat: The Best Albums of 2010

While this year wasn't a big one for new and emerging artists, it was a year for some of my favorite musicians to release albums expressing their creative freedom. Not quite what I was expecting, some were shocking, some were strangely beautiful and one artist who stands the tests of time and took the cake for the first and second albums of the year.

I am talking about ELEPHANT MICAH!

#1. Echoer's Intent (2010, Time-Lag Records) -- Elephant Micah

Being that I had Josephine by Magnolia Electric Co. at #1 last year it shouldn't come as a surprise that EM would be at #1. At #1 and #2 now that surprised me a little. The things that make Elephant Micah great have been amplified this year. His wealth of material that is available for download on his site, his lyrically gorgeous natural imagery. I recently moved from NY to Arkansas and it was a big year for me, these 2 albums are the ones that will take me back to this feeling in my life and "deep thoughts" driving. The longevity of the album heavily weighs in to determine where the albums on this list stand. I find myself keeping certain albums close to me for years to come and here we have two benchmark albums among some other noteworthy and question provoking albums on the list.

When an album meets you at the right time in my life and serves as a tool for letting out complex and overwhelming feelings it then becomes woven in my life's changes and the melody to my memories.
"So we stare at your still-life as if it were wild, we look for your blues in the natural light"
http://www.elephantmicah.com/

#2. Elephant Micah Plays the Songs of Bible Birds (2010, Time-Lag Records) -- Elephant Micah

#3. Heart of My Own (2010) -- Basia Bulat

There wasn't a second I could put this on and keep myself from singing my heart out. She is incredibly talented and one of the best moments of SXSW was watching her from 3 feet away smiling in her face. Although she had to have felt a bit uncomfortable, my creepiness didn't shake her professionalism. If only I would have gotten the courage to ask her for a pic with her.

#4. I See The Sign (2010) -- Sam Amidon

Sam Amidon or Samamidon (however you have him saved in your music library for continuity) has consistently brought a slew of new-old songs with all his theatrical magnificence. Seeing him in Tribecca this year was a treat. He doesn't take himself as seriously as you would expect based on the material he has chosen to reinterpret. He balances this with his wit which gives his shows a lightness as he belts out False Hearted Chicken. Funny guy that Sam.

#5. Brothers (2010) --The Black Keys

An album that speaks for itself.

#6. Here's to Taking It Easy LP - 2010 (Dead Oceans) -- Phosphorescent

For some reason this became my 2010 driving anthem album of the year. It got me pumped up before the gym and relaxed me after. The looks of the other girls in my Zumba class as I pulled up in the parking lot blasting this -- oh I think they wanted in on it.

#7. Admiral Fell Promises -- Sun Kil Moon

"He's a brute of a man " my boyfriend whispered in my ear as Mark Kozelek and his acoustic guitar took the stage earlier this year at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Then we were speechless as he played a selection of long sweet delicate songs mostly found off this new album. Then he ragged on hipsters referring to them as clones (he later apologized)

#8. Thistled Spring (CD/LP, Kill Rock Stars, 2010) -- Horse Feathers

This should really be higher on the list. I love this album and Horse Feathers. So much so that I stalked them at an airport in Nashville. I was lucky to get a pic with some of them at the airport.A few days later I stood as close as possible to their stage at SXSW. These guys (and girl) are bursting with musical talent. I have seen them in NY and TX, now I need to convince them to come to AR! What a beautiful mess they leave on stage after they preform too, so many instruments are left scattered everywhere.

#9. The Suburbs (2010) -- Arcade Fire

I haven't seen these guys live since 2006 and that probably has something to do with their place on the list because this is a really great album. I don't know one person who hasn't been raving about it this year. A crowd pleaser.

#10. The Age of Adz -- Sufjan Stevens

Gender-bending, uh I mean genre-bending. This album required close examination for a few days. The intriguing puzzle that is The Age of Adz (not really pronounced Odz after all?) The album has its moments. I enjoy seeing what this musical genius is capable of in all types of situations. After close examination this album gave me a fun experience. I agree this is a mash up of all previous Sufjan albums. The live experience of this album answered the questions of surprise the album presented but coated the answers in rehearsed chaos. Broadway plays don't entertain me the way Sufjan did at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City. Impossible Soul is one of my most memorable songs of the year and Vesuvius is one of my favorite tracks this year. I thoroughly enjoyed his EP this year as well. Seeing Sufjan experiment and work through his creative process on stage before our eyes through a neon dance party momentarily interrupted with raw solos left me feeling privileged to have shared this intimate look into the personal process of one of the greatest musicians of my lifetime. Added bonus he danced and apologized if you didn't get what you were expecting.

#11. The Courage of Others -- Midlake

I don't feel like people really gave this album a chance. It is full of that natural imagery stuff I like. Plus flutes. I can dig it.

#12. The Wild Hunt -- The Tallest Man on Earth

Love is All is one of the best songs of the year. The Wild Hunt had lots of momentum but I managed to play it out through the year. Luckily he released an EP that gave me some relief from the constant rotation of TWH, unfortunately it sounded too similar to TWH to stand out from it.

#13. The Big Black & The Blue -- First Aid Kit

Another early favorite of 2010 and two more Swedes for the list. A cute pair of sisters that have more tallent than years of age combined. Gorgeous album art too if I might add. Hard Believer... one of the best songs this year.

#14. Infinite Arms -- Band of Horses

Consistently lovely album art. Consistently pleasing albums. Inconsistent band members. Growing in popularity and declining with mature audiences. Fun for roadtrips, sing-a-longs and parties lacking deep moments of connection. Haven't had a funeral moment since well... Funeral. I wouldn't go so far as to say love BOH like a 15 year old dog that we can't bring to put down. I wouldn't say that. There's a few tricks left in this old dog.

#15. Hoquiam -- Hoquiam

Looking forward to more Hoquiam. I really enjoyed this album. The strong points are really strong if the 17 tracks were cut down and only the really great songs were on here this would have been higher up but I am glad it sits here because I would never want to cut an album down.

#16. Fields -- Junip

José González (another Swede for the list) + high quality production = Awesome Album!!! Someone should ask him to produce a movie soundtrack already!!!

!!!

#17. At Echo Lake -- Woods

so. much. fun.

#18. High Violet -- The National

Just had a hard time fitting this into the list. I think its because the album as a whole is heavy and the way the list is ordered is heavily weighted in being able to listen to the tracks all the way through. After seeing The National at ACL this year (the best performance at ACL) I like big doses of live National and smaller doses of recorded National. ok nuff said... moving on...

#19. Suburban Nature -- Sarah Jaffe

Man I really like Sarah Jaffe, she is one badass chick. If I was having a tough year this would have been all the way up there. Girls -- check her out.

#20. Inter-Be -- Peter Wolf Crier

Big hit this year, highly recommended if you haven't heard it yet. It was great catching them live in NY with the heartless bastards and the builders and the butchers!

Just 20 this year. So I am posting my best songs of 2010 list soon.

In terms of live albums check out the Bill Callahan 2010 Rough Travel for a Rare Thing: