Its that time again – time for round-up-the-year-lists from bloggers.
Our own has been several weeks in the making, but we have come up with a collaborative list for the year. In no particular order, here goes:
Top 10 Albums of 2010
Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History
2010 will be remembered as the year that launched this trio from Northen Ireland. Tipped for the top by many this time last year, including us, they certainly have followed up on their promise and exploded into the international spotlight. Debut album Tourist History is delightfully catchy indie-pop and its no wonder it features on plenty of Best of 2010 lists. I was going to list my personal favourite tracks, but theres like seven of them, so I recommend you start with track one and go from there. POF
Villagers – Becoming A Jackal
I don’t know why, but I kind of brushed off Conor O’Brien when I first started hearing about Villagers. That Jools Holland performance changed everything, and I went off and got the album. I will admit I was oh so wrong, Becoming A Jackal is one of the best singer-songwriter albums in recent years. Romantic dreamers are still alive in Ireland, just listen to this album and you’ll see. LO
Foals – Total Life Forever
This was not the second album I expected from Foals. When I first heard Spanish Sahara, I was majorly caught off guard – who knew that the band had it in them? What followed this emotive single was an album of musical maturity. They took it to the next level, with more structured songs, but not forgetting the urgency in the sound of their debut. Top that off with a Billy Elliot style video for Blue Blood – win. LO
Stornoway – Beachcomber’s Windowsill
Clever lyrics, skilled musicians, almost a complete aversion to effects, and a little endearing timidity. Storming onto the scene with the single Zorbing, Stornoway have produced an album that evokes a view of simpler times. Their mesmeric sound strangely matches their name; you can picture them playing the local boozer on the Hebridean outpost. I bet if you put your ear to the album cover you’d be able to hear the sea! Stornoway have kept it simple, traditional almost, and they’ve done it well. CM
The Coral – Butterfly House
60’s summer tinged folk indie pop! Quite simply Butterfly House is the most complete album from The Coral, by some distance. It may not carry a massive crowd pleasing romp like Dreaming Of You but as a complete work it’s pretty outstanding.
This record is a cocktail mixed with equal parts Love, The La’s, CSNY, a twist of Fleet Foxes and a soupcon of James Taylor. All brought together by the inimitable John Leckie, who produced The Stone Roses debut and Radiohead’s The Bends. Who’d have thought The Coral could reach this high after the departure of Bill Ryder-Jones. CM
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
An album with more devastating hooks than Manny Pacquiao. Opening track Floating Vibes gives the listener a neat mid-tempo intro into what’s coming; a plethora of reverb, catchy riffs and pleading vocals. It’s not often that an instrumental track is so…well instrumental in an album, but the addictive licks on Neighbour Riff illustrate why this was one of 2010’s best works. CM
Band Of Horses – Infinite Arms
A bit of a pick from left field, but to me this was an under-rated album of the year. Infinite Arms features twelve thoughtful tracks packing plenty of soulful melodies. Try Factory, Way Back Home and Laredo on for size – you’ll find they fit quite well. POF
LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Many said this was the album of the year when it was released, and they were right. Rumours that this was the swan song for LCD meant plenty of coverage and a worldwide tour. Many people have commented on the cleverness to Drunk Girls‘ lyrics, and while I actually really like the track, I also think it’s the worst on the album. This Is Happening is nine tracks of pure genius. POF
Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels
Marina won us all over in 2009 on the back of some great gigs & the lovely Crown Jewels EP, so her debut album The Family Jewels had pretty high expectations on my part. It didn’t disappoint. The girl knows how to write a good song, the album is a no frills portrait on her ambition, ego and modern society. Stand out tracks include Numb, Obsessions and Hermit The Frog. Have a listen, this is what pop should sound like. LO
Beach House – Teen Dream
This is without a doubt Beach House’s most accessible album, but who cares – this melancholy pop album goes down a treat. Opening track Zebra builds up perfectly, the keys, the background vocals and incoming beat, it’s perfect. Victoria Legrand, what a hypnotizing voice. LO
Top 10 Singles of 2010
Maximum Balloon [featuring Little Dragon] – If You Return
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Broken Social Scene – All To All
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Orphan Boy – Pop Song
Orphan Boy – Pop Song by The Clink
Neon Indian – Sleep Paralyist
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Steve Mason – All Come Down
Interpol – Barricades
The National – Terrible Love
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Cults – Go Outside
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Sleigh Bells – Riot Rhythm
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Villagers – That Day
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Top 10 Gigs of 2010
Giggiddy, giggiddy, all right! A new category from last year’s list – our take on the best gigs of the year. We’re a well travelled bunch, so this list isn’t limited to Ireland.
The Drums @ Oxegen
Hands in the air, jumping around like a kid full of E numbers. Those are the main memories from The Drums at Oxegen. The smallest tent at Oxegen felt like it had increased in size while the band were on, the noise was amazing and the band were on form. It almost made us forget the 10 hours of drenching we had suffered during the day. CM
Mumford & Sons @ Oxegen
There was an almost tangible sense of anticipation in the build-up to this Mumford performance. The crowd was buzzing and when the band came on, so were they. They went through their set in impeccable fashion. Some of the Irish rugby team even joined the band on stage to give the occasion a little twist. CM
Darwin Deez @ Academy 2, Dublin
By far the most fun gig of 2010. The band came on to the tiny Academy 2 stage and immediately made it their own. Their choreographed dance interludes provided the audience with a giggle, but they also know how to play and performances like this will ensure that their twinkling little star rises even more in 2011. Check out our Facebook page for some footage of the gig. CM
Ocean Colour Scene @ o2 Academy, Glasgow
Another in a long line of great performances from the consummate pros that are Ocean Colour Scene. The band seem to have a great affinity with Scottish audiences, especially Glasgow crowds, who welcome bands in their own inimitable style. A rocking set of old and new material made this another gig of the year. CM
Stornoway @ Electric Picnic
I didn’t think it was possible but these boys actually managed to top what was a brilliant Tripod gig earlier in the year. Maybe they were relishing the festival vibe, who knows. But I do know is they had a packed tent in the middle of a Co Laois field feeling very good about them. POF
Freelance Whales @ Electric Picnic
One of my first gigs of Electric Picnic and what a treat it was. I had only heard a handful of tracks from Freelance Whales at the time, but with spirits riding high we trundled along to a very happy gig. A couple of lines of fans were wedged against the stage (this was before the barriers went up later that night) bouncing to every track and, at one stage, high fiving the band. POF
Bombay Bicycle Club @ Oxegen
Unfortunately I only got to catch the guts of 3 songs of BBC’s performance, but that was enough to make it memorable. The electrifying memory of a jammed packed tent, all singing along to Always Like This, myself and Chris included, is going to stick in my head for many years to come. POF
Arcade Fire @ Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
This gig hands down was my gig highlight of my year. In the run up to the release / hype surrounding the release of The Suburbs, Arcade Fire played two tiny surprise gigs in Toronto. I was lucky enough to attend one of them. So many highs in this gig, we were treated to old classics and got the first taste of new material. Arcade Fire were on form, this was a special gig for them as The Danforth Music Hall was one of the first places they ever played in Toronto. Jampacked on a stage less then the size of The Olympia – they rocked it. LO
Two Door Cinema Club @ The Phoenix, Toronto
Who knew Two Door Cinema Club were this popular in Toronto? Support act Penguin Prison set the scene and went down a treat, but it was TDCC who stole the show. I had begun to get used to gigs here in Canada being a somewhat tame affair – this was entirely the opposite, the lads actually had the floorboards shaking. LO
Metric with Passion Pit @ Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto
Probably the largest concert I attended this year. Passion Pit were great, but I’ve been more impressed with their previous shows. It was a pity most of the crowd didn’t know who they were. Metric on the other hand are the big league, and it shows. This was a first class indie rock concert, the band didn’t miss a beat. Ending the night with an acoustic sing-along of old favourite Combat Baby, I think everyone left the venue enamoured with Emily Haines. Metric need to get themselves over to Ireland for a gig, fast. LO
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