My Top 10 Albums of 2010

1. Foals - Total Life Forever
The critically acclaimed second album from the Oxford quintet combines delicate guitar riffs, spacious synth and an even more direct approach by lead singer/guitarist Yannis. Total Life Forever includes brilliantly constructed songs such as Blue Blood, Black Gold and Spanish Sahara. Whereas their live sets grow from strengh to strengh. This album was rewarded with a Mercury Prize nomination.
Foals - Spanish Sahara by subpop


2. Mystery Jets - Serotonin
After signing a new deal with Rough Trade Records and touring for what seemed years, Mystery Jets announced their fourth album 'Serotonin' would be released in July 2010. I listened with great excitement and with curiosity as whether they had tweaked their classic sound. I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. In this record Mystery jets have acquired a more mature sound. Songs such as Flash A Hungry Smile, Dreaming Of Another World and Melt certainly show this new sound. You can listen to this album anytime and each sound compliments the next and previous...
Show Me The Light - Mystery Jets by mssngpeces


3. Caribou - Swim
After years of producing ecletic electronic music, Daniel Snaith produced his most successful record Swim. It took over the indie scene in early 2010 with its precise drum beats to synth ratio.. Odessa the first song on the album even went on to feature in the FIFA 2011 soundtrack. But it is the almost trance-like aspect of Leave House, Bowls and Sun which makes this album great.
Swim by Caribouband


4. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner
Gold Panda, a.k.a Derwin Panda, producer from London first full length album 'Lucky Shiner' really does get your heart going. Each song plays a major part of the overall picture, it is like he is telling a story. It seems like they have a deeper meaning which makes this record even more astonishing.. Snow & Taxis leaps out at you as if it was made for a movie soundtrack. While the more subtle Marriage and Casio Daisy add substance. It recieved an 8.2 on Pitchfork.com.
Snow & Taxis by Gold Panda

5. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
Hot Chip's domination of the electro-pop scene was re-established thanks to One Life Stand. It showed their fans that despite various solo projects the group were and are as strong as they have ever been. The inclusion of drummer Rob Smoughton for live shows has produced some great gigs from their world tour of 2010. Songs such as I Feel Better, Alley Cats and Take It In provide more evidence that they tend to make 4 or 5 superb songs on each record they produce.
One Life Stand (Radio Edit) by HOTCHIP

6. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Alice Glass and Ethan Kath continued their pursuit of the perfect experimental electronica sound following a successful debut in 2008. However, following a rather weird EP I was apprehensive as I listened to their second self-titled album. It was somewhat graceful, in a non-conformist way (if thats possible). Tracks such as Celestica, Baptism and Empathy really get you going. Although released in May, it recieved increased recogition thanks to the single release of Baptism.. It recieved an 8.5 on Pitchfork.com

Crystal Castles - Celestica by Crystal Castles

7. The Naked + Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Naked and Famous are increasing in popularity everyday. Their debut album released in September showed that rock music still has an impact on a indie/electronic based musical spectrum in the UK. Punching In A Dream and Young Blood have quickly become radio favourites, and quite rightly. They have been nominated for the BBC Sound of Music Poll for 2011, so good things are expected..

The Naked And Famous - Young Blood by adamtaj

8. Vampire Weekend - Contra
I reviewed this record in January, and regarded it very highly. My opinion remains. Its clever use of synth and catchy guitar riffs whilst maintaining their classic sound is a hard act, they have pulled it off. It was recieved brilliantly across the globe, reaching number one in the US Billboard 200. Songs such as Giving Up The Gun and I Think Ur A Contra push their existing sound into a deeper sense, but Holiday and Cousins provide a glimpse of the first album.

Vampire Weekend - Holiday by MMMusic

9. Casiokids - Topp Stemning Pa Lokal Bar
This much awaited record from the Norwegian electro-pop group contains superb songs such as Verdens Stortse Land and Fot I Hose. Incredible use of synth to create a completley new and different sound makes this record stand out from other attempts such as from Passion Pit or Little Boots. The album also includes well made remixes such as the Velfred remix of Verdens Storste land.

Casiokids - Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar (double CD) by Popfrenzy


10. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
Yeasayer second album Odd Blood proves that experimental pop is acceptable.. Self-Produced and indepentendly marketed it shows great skill in combining bass and synth while produced a pop sound. It is fair to say that O.N.E was one of the summer tracks of 2010, while Madder Red and Ampling Alp show that there is substance to this record. I must admit that Yeasayer are much better live than on record, but that does not take anything away from Odd Blood.

Yeasayer - O.N.E by musicmule