Posts tagged Cool Beans

Is it really that time already? Another year has past us and the end is nigh. Take a minute to look back at the year that has past you and ask yourself if you did everything that you could to make sure you made the most of every moment and opportunity you had over the last 365 days. You didn’t. No one does. Why not? You don’t have to justify doing what you want to do all day every day, you have to justify not doing it, and that is something you will hardly every really be able to do.

Here is to the end of twenty ten. Long may the good times reign. This could well be my favourite song in the world. Last word goes to Brian Eno:

Happy New Year

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2010 was a pretty awesome year for music. Dub step went mainstream, indie went electro and even pop music was slightly less cheesy than most years, slightly. The indie scene has been replaced by the hipster scene as the wave of landfill indie/rock has finally taken its final resting place, in the landfill. So here is the follow up to last years Albums of the Decade.

It is transitional years like 2010 that often don’t see continuing success for already established artists. You will see notable absences on most lists from the likes of the Klaxons, the Foals and Vampire Weekend who’s second albums failed to live up to the hype of their recent débuts. This meant it was an exciting year for new artists, reflected in our list with 7 of the top 10 being début albums from new artists.

Se here is our run down of our favourite new albums of the year 2010:

1. Drink the Sea – The Glitch Mob

Unique, fresh, exciting and epic. I first heard this band on the trailer for ski movie “Revolver” a few months ago. It worked so well together that I ended up going to the premier of the movie, which The Glitch Mob feature on the soundtrack. I was blown away. But I am a sucker for anything epic, and this is a truly epic album. At a time where most acts are using similar technology to create their sound, these guys have managed to stay totally unique whilst creating a very modern and relevant sounding record. They have stayed a little under the radar, as their is no track under 5 minutes on the album so they rarely get radio play, but this is certainly one for any early electronica fans. Must have track: Animus Vox

2. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

What can I say about Kanye West. He certainly has been a douche bag over they years. Over the last few years he has been a PR nightmare, often making headlines for controversial comments or actions. But make no mistake, he is an excellent producer, that has made a huge influence on the industry in recent years. His recent latest album release, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, despite coming at a turbulent time in West’s career is perhaps his best piece of work to date. In a year that has seen a very poor show of decent Hip Hop, this stands out as one of the truly great albums of recent times. Recent events have perhaps helped West see himself in a different way, reflected in tracks like “Runaway” where he seems to accept that he is a douche-bag. But the record progress from confronting his own demons, to everybody else’s. He lets the last word on his record go to Gil Scott-Heron, sampling his 70′s spoken word track “Comment #1″. He conveys a genuine concern over the state of things, not only in his own world but in everyone’s. This record is bang on the money. Whether people listen to is remains to be seen, but this definitely deserves your full attention. Must have track: Lost in the World

3. This is Happening – LCD Soundsystem

How do you follow up a classic like LCD Soundsystem’s classic 2007 album “Sound of Silver”? The first track on This is Happening, Dance Yrself Clean, leaves no doubt that this band is back and as good as ever. It may well be their last album as they go their separate ways after the current tour, but they leave behind a fine body of work and this is no exception. The fact that LCD Soundsystem have achieved much success with all of their records despite rarely making clear radio singles, just goes to show that they have been making great honest music without compromise right through to the end, as only one track on this album is below 5 minutes long. This is Happening, along with the rest are arguably even better when performed live. A fantastic swan song for a superb band. Must have track: Dance Yrself Clean

4. Broken Bells – Broken Bells

Broken Bells are the strange pairing of legendary producer Danger Mouse and The Shins vocalist James Mercer. If that alone isn’t exciting enough for you to run out and buy the album straight away then you need to do some research. The result is a collection of hypnotic and sweet songs where Danger Mouse has left his mark, yet not over done his presence. These guys sound like they have been recording together for years and have already found their stride. There are no signs of the Hip Hop background of Danger Mouse and rightfully so. It is most comparable to his fine collaboration with Beck a few years ago. Must have Track: The Ghost Inside

5. Tourist History – Two Door Cinema Club

Northern Irish born Two Door Cinema Club are perhaps the perfect example of the transition music has taken over the past year. Their only criticism is a lack of originality, often compared to Bloc Party and the Foals, but Tourist History has been more widely accepted and appealing than most. It’s still indie at the core but it is beyond the usual guitar band sound that has lived out it’s time in the charts. This is a fine album of short sharp hits that are fun and to the point. If there is a theme to successful music this year, it is fun. This is the soundtrack of 2010. Must have track: Come Back Home

6. The Drums – The Drums

If Joy Division had lived happier lives they may have sounded something like this. This is ironic and fun throwback record which harbours a lot of bad things from the 80′s. They’re so behind the curve, they’re practically ahead of a new one. This is an album of instantly appealing and catchy pop records. Must have track: Lets Go Surfing

7. Pulled Apart By Horses – Pulled Apart By Horses

This Leeds Hardcore band are successful in a similar way to the two albums above. More than anything, they are just fun. Heavy riffs, interesting time signatures and childish lyrics make this album brutal, noisy fun. Must have track: High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive

8. High Violet – The National

One of the few albums to feature a band that has been around the block. Their 5th album, High Violet’s anxious, personal songs ring true in a time where anxiety is grabbing hold of both the youth and the older generations. The National make a modern, grand, confusing and relateable record. Must have track: Terrible Love

9. Kryptonite – DJ Fresh

Drum & Bass has featured in the charts more this year than ever before. This is probably the best DnB album of the year with classic tracks such as Golddust and Lassitude thriving on both radio and downloads. Must have track: Golddust

10. Darwin Deez – Darwin Deez

Again with the fun records. Original sounding guitar tones and clicky pop drums makes this record undesirable by some. But it has a certain charm and relevance. The home-made quality of the recordings make it feel like you are watching an amateur video on YouTube. It is that charm which makes this fun and easily relatable to the young audience. Short and sweet like our ever diminishing attention spans. Must have track: Radar Detector

Runners up: Fenech-Soler (Self Titled), Man Alive (Everything Everything), Boylife (Lo-Fi-Fnk), I’m New Here (Gil Scott-Heron).

Top 10 tracks of the year coming soon!

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