My Review of 2010 in Music. [finished]

[Shaun]

I'll be posting all parts...probably just 2 in total...in here, don't worry :p but basically this is a thread where I'll chart the great and not-so-great of 2010. I've been working quite stressfully towards my top 50 songs of the year, which I'll be posting first, and my top 30 albums. -reckons this'll go unnoticed but meh-

[Novo]

I am surprised you have managed to think of 50 to be honest, I'd struggle to pick 10 this year

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

whip my hair ftw obviously

[Captain.Remy]

when Shaun posts a music review, you know some bad ass taste will pop up. It gives me faith in humanity because yes, there still are people who like good music. :hugesmile:

and yeah, I agree with Novo, 2010 has been pretty bad in terms of quality.

[Smithy]

GaGa would have come top in this had she released Bad Romance in '10 :bored:

[Locke.]

Shaun give R. Kelly's 'When a Woman Loves' a listen before you post this list

[Novo]

If he wanted to listen to a Peado he would go to the local Prison

[Locke.]

You are 19 and Stacey is 15

You can't say anyone is a paedo

[Novo]

You are 18 and Twilight is 12

[Shaun]

#50: Jamiroquai - White Knuckle Ride
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From what I make of him, he's quite an easily hateable personality - what with the fast cars, numerous conquests and rich lifestyle. But he's pretty much a dance music legend, and whilst this year saw a slightly eggfaced comeback thanks to the musical pariahs that are The X Factor female judges, this song was just bloody cool.

#49: Neon Trees - Animal
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They never really took off this side of the Atlantic but I'm told they've cut it in the US. But Neon Trees' debut single this year was this, a ridiculously catchy and endearing song.

#48: Belle and Sebastian - I'm Not Living in the Real World
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Sorry ILoveTRW.
Anyway - their sound is usually a lot more self-glorifyingly indie and downbeat, but this album's proved a lovely turn of events - vibrant, singalong, happy.

#47: Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill
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I thoroughly take back my overhyped review of Plastic Beach this year. Diverse it may have been, but few songs have had longevity - this being one of the lucky few.

#46: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
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A rather catchy tune indeed. Sort of like the Beach Boys meet Joy Division. On a good day. If Curtis had good days.

#45: My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na
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I was thinking this would be higher up upon release, but its energy has deteriorated somewhat. Nonetheless, MCR's return has been full of angsty energy and this single was pretty exciting.

#44: Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses
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Under the Sheets would've made an appearance had it not been 2009 - but this is one of Goulding's few songs that haven't gone on to be massively irritating. 'Your Song' can get out.

#43: M.I.A. - Meds and Feds
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Sampling a Sleigh Bells song (and let's face it, she has every right to since, as producer, she made them), M.I.A.'s 2010 album was full of angry noise and this was one of the particularly exciting tracks.

#42: The Go! Team - T.O.R.N.A.D.O.
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Absolutely insane.

#41: Groove Armada - History (feat. Will Young)
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I was apprehensive about the idea of Will Young on a dance track - but it works perfectly. Somewhat similar to "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat, Young's vocals give it a fresh new twist.

[Patrick]

2010 has been bollocks for music, Nothing but Justin Bieber, Black Rappers rapping about 'Shawty' and repetitive bollocks showing up from people who's only talent is to get a group of chavs singing.

[Smithy]

:O Your Song :love:!!

[Matt]

#49: Neon Trees - Animal
#46: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
#44: Ellie Goulding - Guns and Horses

All of these are completely amazing.

Animal's one of my favourite songs of the year :love:

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

#47 & #44 :lovedup:

[Shaun]

#40: Coldplay - Christmas Lights
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It's only just come out and I initially was disappointed. But I can tell it'll continue to grow like a festive tumour. It doesn't break new ground - it's just comforting, safe, lovely Coldplay.

#39: The Smashing Pumpkins - Tom Tom
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It has a very Manic Street Preachers vibe - but less hateful frontmen. It's essentially the process of refocussing a distorted psychedelic mess - giving it progression, a nice rhythm and still maintaining a little exploration.

#38: Lissie - Little Lovin'
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If you want a pleasant, attractive young girl doing country-tinged music then **** Taylor Swift, download Lissie's album. Her voice has a great tone to it, and the songs are laidback and soulsearching.

#37: Robyn - Dancing On My Own
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It's never going to pick up an award, and it's more of the same Robyn - but it's a niche I enjoy. It's over the top emotion set to a thumping tune and I love it regardless.

#36: Marina + the Diamonds - Hollywood
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The lyrics are stupid. But this tune is not.

#35: Janelle Monáe - Cold War
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MrGaryy introduced me to her. She's like Grace Jones in the sense of female androgyny, but doesn't suffer from the ****ing weird attitude Jones does. Instead, she makes rather consistent and good albums like The ArchAndroid.

#34: Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
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Another new artist to 2010 - I initially misplaced this track somehow and went under the impression they were a one trick pony. This is the only album track that's relatively melodic as opposed to an assault on the senses. And the tune is very lovely.

#33: Grinderman - Worm Tamer
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I can't go a year and neglect Nick Cave. Plus the lyrics to this are ludicrously daring. "Yeah well my baby calls me the Loch Ness Monster - two great big humps, then I'm gone." The aggression is brilliant.

#32: Cee Lo Green - ***** You
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This would've placed higher had a) it not been censored ludicrously and b) it not been overplayed. REGARDLESS, it's phenomenal. And probably deserves a higher placing. Meh.

#31: Mumford and Sons - Dust Bowl Dance
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I've gone for this ahead of Winter Winds and Little Lion Man because it's a more subtle piece. The lyrics are lovely, and it builds to something quite great.

[CaraRawr]

MCR and Mumford :love:

30STM please.

[Shaun]

have they even done anything this year? GET OUT

[CaraRawr]

have they even done anything this year? GET OUT

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yes and it is amaze.

[Smithy]

a 13 min video o.O

Lissie!! <3

[CaraRawr]

a 13 min video o.O

Lissie!! <3

haha it's more of a short film tbh :p

[Tom4784]

#47: Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill

#46: The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

#45: My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na

#43: M.I.A. - Meds and Feds

#42: The Go! Team - T.O.R.N.A.D.O.

#38: Lissie - Little Lovin'

#37: Robyn - Dancing On My Own

#36: Marina + the Diamonds - Hollywood

#35: Janelle Monáe - Cold War

#34: Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill

#31: Mumford and Sons - Dust Bowl Dance


I approve.

[Shaun]

#30: John Grant - Caramel
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I thoroughly recommend his album. It's full of really poignant, blunt, emotional stuff - this being one of the prettiest tracks.

#29: Arcade Fire - Half Light I
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Would be higher had someone not pointed out a similarity between this and DeVotchKa's "How it Ends". It's a beautiful symphony.

#28: Gorillaz - Stylo
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I'll be honest, the video helps this a lot. But that aside - it's a pretty slow-burning tune and it took a few listens to grow on me. But it's pretty awesome.

#27: Kings of Leon - Back Down South
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The sound of this is just brilliant. It makes me want to bask in the sun. Might be because of current climate but meh.

#26: Kelis - Scream
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It's not enough to live, so just dream \bate. No this is a pretty brilliant tune...quite unconventional chorus, the verses are more -wave your arms-y.

#25: Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun
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Loved this album. Probably the catchiest tune on it.

#24: Scissor Sisters - Skin Tight
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Just cute. The lyrics are soppy and the tune is euphoric.

#23: M.I.A. - Born Free
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Brilliant (banned) video, manic song and even though it's a sample, it's an unknown one so idc. *shakes tits*

#22: Skunk Anansie - God Loves Only You
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The bass on this, teamed with Skin's vocals, make this an intense audial experience.

#21: Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
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Regine's opus.

[MrGaryy]

You picked my favourite track off Night Work [well...basically the only good album track, but still <3].

I also like Cold War, Hollywood, **** You, Dancin' On My Own, Little Lovin', Guns & Horse, White Knuckle Ride and Let's Go Surfing :D

[Shaun]

#20: Example - Kickstarts
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It won Popjustice's £20 Song of the Year prize and whilst it's not exactly a work of art (and Popjustice know about as much about art as a basset hound does) it's indeed an extremely catchy song. Not my favourite of his though, won't beat Watch the Sun Come Up (2009)

#19: Kanye West - All of the Lights
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It's 2010's collaboration opus. Rihanna and Eminem? Pants. GaGa and Beyoncé? Grew boring. It's just a brilliant showcase, and various layers of bold goodness.

#18: Christina Aguilera - You Lost Me
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So Bionic was pretty terrible. But it did feature glimpses of hope, and this was the brightest - potentially her best vocal performance, certainly her best ballad, to date.

#17: Kings of Leon - Radioactive
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It's very self-indulgent, and it's very stadium-rock. As a result they've lost a lot of fans - but mainstream successes such as this are mainstream for a reason - it's distinct, it's pleasing to mine ear.

#16: Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait
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It doesn't look, on paper, like it should work. The piano tune would appear irritating but it's actually helpful towards a tense, moody listening experience.

#15: Brandon Flowers - Crossfire
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The video is both cute and silly. The album was silly. This song is cute.

#14: The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
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YES BEN. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF THEM. *throws things*
but yes, this song is rather catchy.

#13: Arcade Fire - Half Light II
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The second Half Light I've featured on here (there's two Sprawls as well, but I've only selected one) - the drum rhythm cements its place in this countdown, it's very..."montage"y.

#12: Kelis - Acapella
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I never would have predicted a Kelis comeback as brilliant as this. It's thumping, it's unusual, it's hypnotic. ILUVIT.

#11: Adele - Rolling in the Deep
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She suffers a slight setback in that this hasn't even been released yet - and therefore I haven't included her other leaked track (Someone Like You). But the video's out, and this song is just everything that's right with music. Her voice is phenomenal, the tune makes you clap and stomp and the lyrics are raw.

[Shaun]

#10: Goldfrapp - Rocket
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Their 5th album, Head First, was released in early 2010 and it was a bit of a disaster. However, the lead single, this, was flamboyant, outrageous synthy goodness and it's unstoppable.

#9: Mumford and Sons - The Cave
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Just a brilliantly orchestrated song.

#8: Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
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Effortlessly happy and I make a habit of listening to this whilst driving through this new, clean, quite boring residential area on the way home. It always reassures me.

#7: Kanye West - Monster (feat. Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj)
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Whilst AOTL boasted quantity, this boasts quality. The lyrics and delivery are ludicrously intense from all performers, but it's Minaj's verse that stole the show and made her the hottest new prospect in American music right now.

#6: Stornoway - The Coldharbour Road
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Just a beautiful song. The violin in this :love:

#5: M.I.A. - XXXO
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On the surface it's a shameless, crass popsong about being promiscuous - but it's actually a brilliantly cutting and clever critique on the expectations made of a modern female popstar. The lyrics have a sinister tinge as a result.

#4: Scissor Sisters - Invisible Light
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Whilst the throwbacks to the 80s this year by many have been irritating and desperate, the Scissors have done it perfectly. It's intense, it's sexy and it's cold. The lyrics to this are brilliant, and Sir Ian McKellen's appearance...oh my vagina.

#3: Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo
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The video is kitsch but the song itself is brilliant - very old school rock'n'roll with an empowered female vocal. You can't not sing/tap your foot along.

#2: Arcade Fire - Month of May
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This got a lot of criticism from hardcore fans for being so rock - but I'm of the opposite stance. The rhythm is fantastic and it makes me conjure mental images of car chases and gunfights. Very Foo Fighters/Queens of the Stone Age.

#1: Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
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It was tricky picking between the top three but on being so different and unique to everything else I listen to, this wins. It's probably the biggest shot of adrenaline you can get through music - the cheerleader-style synths in contrast to the rapid-fire drum effects is intense.

[Shaun]

and a mini-list for the poppier nonsense:

TOP 20 ULTIMATELY ARTLESS BUT QUITE NICE TO SHAKE YOUR ARSE TO SONGS
1) Mini Viva - One Touch
2) Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire
3) Nicole Scherzinger - Poison
4) Kylie Minogue - All the Lovers
5) Eminem - Won't Back Down (feat. P!nk
6) Ke$ha - Blow
7) Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
8) Kylie Minogue - Get Out of My Way
9) The Saturdays - Higher
10) Christina Aguilera - Not Myself Tonight
11) Bruno Mars - Just the Way You Are (feat. B.o.B.)
12) Rihanna - Only Girl (in the World)
13) Flo-Rida - Club Can't Handle Me
14) McFly - Party Girl
15) Enrique Iglesias - Heartbeat (feat. Nicole Scherzinger)
16) Hera Bjork - Je Ne Sais Quoi
17) Kelly Rowland - Commander
18) Nicki Minaj - Fly (feat Rihanna)
19) P!nk - Raise Your Glass
20) Shakira - Waka Waka (Time for Africa)

[Tom]

You have appalling taste in music.

[Smithy]

:O

Raise Your Glass = Epic Win

[Shaun]

You have appalling taste in music.

obvious troll is obvious

[Tom]

obvious troll is obvious

Could call you a troll with some of these choices :crazy:

[Shaun]

except a troll = someone trying to cause an argument. And I'm not...

so whatever. run along to your Tinie Tempah or whatever it is you do.

[Tom]

except a troll = someone trying to cause an argument. And I'm not...

so whatever. run along to your Tinie Tempah or whatever it is you do.

I'm not trying to cause an argument, merely stating my opinion. On all accounts it could be your response that is trying to cause an argument :). But funny you slate that and then have Kanye West in your countdown ... twice.

[Shaun]

yeah really funny considering his universal critical acclaim.

[Tom]

similar style though

[ILoveTRW]

Only thing I like on the list is Kelis the rest is just ewww

[MeMyselfAndI]

i agree with tom

[Zippy]

#41: Groove Armada - History (feat. Will Young)
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I was apprehensive about the idea of Will Young on a dance track - but it works perfectly. Somewhat similar to "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat, Young's vocals give it a fresh new twist.

ooh I love this. Has it been released already?

[Shaun]

ooh I love this. Has it been released already?

Yeah I think so - was quite early in the year.

[Shaun]

Part 3: Albums

I've picked 30 albums to make up my favourites of 2010, but before I get to that here's a few lists of others. I've come up with four categories:

- Brief flirtations that grew old quickly
- Things that didn't grab me but grabbed a lot of others
- Go away, think about what you've done, and try harder next time.
- Go away, think about what you've done, and kill yourselves.

Coming up now :spin2:

[Damaris]

I pretty much love all the songs here (Minus a few)

Best Coast-Boyfriend
Wavves-King Of The Beach
The Drums-Me And The Moon
Patrick Wolf-Time Of My Life
My Chemical Romance Na Na Na

Would be my top 5 :)

[Damaris]

Shaun, have you heard Zola Jesus's album?

[Shaun]

Shaun, have you heard Zola Jesus's album?

not yet - have heard great things about her though!

[Damaris]

Yeah, she's great!
I don't know if it would be your cup of tea though...

[Shaun]

http://soffisticado.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/SimonCurtis_8bit_Heart-300x300.jpg

Simon Curtis - 8-Bit Heart
There were a few decent pop songs here and there, and at the time I guess I thought the whole 'look at me! I'm robotic!' thing was fresh...but it hasn't even lasted the test of a year, so I don't see great things for him.

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Broken Bells - Broken Bells
I got a track of theirs as a free download for joining something called 'mflow' and the track itself was quite promising. But this album was just really too unadventurous. It was the sound of a party winding down and it just didn't capture my imagination at all, despite one or two decent tracks.

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Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Probably the biggest turnaround I've done on an album of recent times. It's very experimental, I'll give it that. And has one or two decent songs - but it's truly a case of too many cooks spoil the broth. There're no great songs that you'd formerly relied on them to piss out. Their Glastonbury performance demonstrated this - noone wants to pay £200+ to see some people experimenting with Indian folk bands.

http://mogmusicnetwork.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Brandon-Flowers-Flamingo-album-cover-art-300x300.jpg

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
Brandon, honey, I adore you to pieces but maybe the other Killers took a year out for a reason... this was just a weak tribute act to the real thing. The songs were predictable and generic, and despite some hope with Magdalena, Jacksonville and Crossfire - it's long since disappeared off my radar.

http://www.newsgainer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/pink-friday-300x300.jpg

Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday
Maybe I just expected too much of this. It was just a pretty standard R&B album, in fairness, and nothing really leapt out at me despite my burgeoning hype in her following 'Monster'.

http://www.whosjack.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tnaf-cover-300x300.jpg

The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
I had 4 of their songs prior to the release of this. I quite liked them. Loved two of them. But the album omitted one of those tracks, and the fact that 60% of it sounds like MGMT b-sides doesn't help...

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Prince - 20Ten
I've put it in this list because 'Compassion' was pretty bloody good. Just a shame about the rest of the album...

http://musosguide.com/public_html/musos.wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/OwnSideNow_500x500.shkl_-300x300.jpg

Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now
I adore her voice. But this album just lacked any variety...it was the equivalent of administering anaesthetic for an hour. Quite a pleasant sensation...if you're numb.

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Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 2
Not that bad at all, really. Just not as good as the first part, and too short to make an impression.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mgq2HbtCy-o/S5RH72cn6xI/AAAAAAAAADo/WMZ32lZHu1g/s320/Soft+pack.jpg

The Soft Pack - The Soft Pack
Nice sound to them, sort of like a West Coast-Strokes. But the album lacked punch...it was like the support band before a headliner.

http://www.pinpointmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Neon-Trees-Habits-300x300.jpg

Neon Trees - Habits
By all means a good album. It's just grown a bit old for me and doesn't quite match up to my top 30. Pretty good for what it is though - they're more than capable to fill in the boots of your generic The Big Pinks or Pigeon Detectives.

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Surfer Blood - Astro Coast
Again I love the sound to this album - it's very laidback, west-coast rock: nice gentle sounds and rhythms..and it's again purely not as great as the others on my list. Pretty nice though.

[Rory]

i agree with tom
Yeah, Leona was at her best this year, imho.
xxxxx

[Smithy]

8bit heart got boring after about 4 plays :love: Pink Friday though

[Z]

Just spent ages going through the top 50 you posted, love a fair few of them (and thank you for introducing me to John Grant, new obsession of the week I reckon!)

[Tom4784]

I approve, apart from your critique of Plastic Beach. I can't look at you right now because of it.

[Shaun]

*cries to 'Lift Me Up'*

[Tom4784]

*cries to 'Lift Me Up'*

*Greg & James do a figure skating routine in the background as you weep*

[Shaun]

http://www.edescargar.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Example-Wont-Go-Quietly-2010-300x300.jpg

Example - Won't Go Quietly
I did actually quite like this to begin with, but I reckon that might have been on the merit of the singles. There were one or two pretty listenable tracks but otherwise it was a lot of filler and repeated noises.

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The National - High Violet
It's been hyped by many as one of the best albums of the year but to me it just didn't twig. It's too Bruce Springsteen - it's full of Americanisms and that same generic mid-tempo, gritty vocal, sound. Not my thing at all.

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Ellie Goulding - Lights
I gave this a quite average review. That's because it's a quite average album. Sound of 2010 she was not: Goulding just had 10 quite forgettable album tracks. Snore.

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HURTS - Happiness
Blah. Not even sure if it grabbed many others, I don't remember it really grabbing any high positions... it was just an hour of moody electronics, and that's been done to death in recent years, let alone a decade of it...

http://www.fensepost.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/avi-buffalo-self-titled-300x300.jpg

Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo
I did actually really like this. It's an album with the name "Summer Cum" as an album track ffs. But I don't know...it was too much of a 'let's frolick through strawberry fields' affair...no real depth, or interesting innovations.

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Michael Jackson - Michael
It's only just leaked and I don't think been released yet, and to give it fair due - it's not as horrible as I was expecting. But that said...let the man rest in peace. Noone deserves to have their name posthumously dragged through the mill of **** that is Akon.

http://milswanca.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/two-door-cinema-club-tourist-history-300x300.jpg

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
Blah. 4 decent tracks and then a tirade of crap. NEXT.

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/Band-Of-Horses-Infinite-Arms-300x300.jpg

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
It's full of some quite pleasant songs. But critics overhyped this, I think... it's nice as a little replacement to your annual Snow Patrol outing, but otherwise I've got more than enough in my library of songs like this.

[Tom4784]

Agreed with most. Although Devotion by Hurts <3.

[Shaun]

http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/files/2010/11/Katy-Perry-Teenage-Dream-Album-Cover-Picture-500x500-300x300.jpg

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Only avoids the bottom category thanks to E.T., Firework and Teenage Dream - but otherwise this was an album of Ke$ha tunes. Abysmal.

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Goldfrapp - Head First
By all means it wasn't a terrible album, but if you put this head to head against their last release, Seventh Tree, it looks like a bad tribute act. 3 good songs followed by the experience of a lacklustre German disco.

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Rihanna - Loud
Whether or not you prefer her Russian Roulette style of music, this fails to meet even her lighthearted standards of Good Girl Gone Bad. A few potential singles interspersed between absolute waffle.

http://www.getasol.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/eminem-recovery-album-cover-300x300.jpg

Eminem - Recovery
In short: no1curr. He's way past his prime and whilst it's a hell of a lot better than Relapse, so is a coma.

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HIM - Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice
Another example of an artist way past their expiry date. Just many levels of disappointment.

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Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
A massive disappointment for me after only recently (prior to the leak of this) becoming a fan - it's full of clumsy electronic experimentation and there's just no cohesion whatsoever. A few decent tracks and wavelengths but otherwise...no.

http://iluvlola.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/indestructible.cover_-300x300.jpg

Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 3
Truly an example of running out of steam, and to be honest it was predictable. Her triple-album project of 2010 started out promisingly but by this, her final offering, she was well and truly out of ideas.

http://flyfm.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/take-that-progress-cover-300x300.jpg

Take That - Progress
Just horribly disappointing. Electro is not their market at all. Ditch Robbie for good, go back to your last two albums, and restart from there. Thanks.

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/mp3crank.com_cover-K-300x300.jpg

Keane - Night Train
I quite liked lead single 'Stop For A Minute (feat. K'Naan)' but otherwise...just give it up. Noone likes you any more.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/05/The-Futureheads-The-Chaos-300x300.jpg

The Futureheads - The Chaos
Hopefully the end of them, to be honest. Their cover of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" last time around was just offensive. Get out.

http://blog.zhyferox.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Christina-Aguilera-Bionic-300x300.jpg

Christina Aguilera - Bionic
Just a monumental list of errors. Badly advertised. Badly put together. Badly recorded. She never tried outside of the States and it flopped there: the lead single only made #12 here. There's some saving grace in the deluxe tracks, but you have to wonder why on Earth she didn't just ditch half of the standard edition and include those.

http://blackout-popmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/The-Scripts1-300x300.jpg

The Script - Science and Faith
All of the mediocre MOR of the last album without any of the decent songs. Another artist whose days are numbered.

[Shaun]

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/Joe-McElderry-Wide-Awake-300x300.jpg

Joe McElderry - Wide Awake
I sincerely apologise for ever voicing support for this non-entity.

http://www.rasputinmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/The-Black-Eyed-Peas-The-Beginning-deluxe-edition1-300x300.jpg

The Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning
Potentially the worst album I have ever heard. Words cannot express the rapid journey from great to awful they have ventured.

http://livemusiciancentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/linkin-park-a-thousand-suns-cover-300x300.jpg

Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
Honestly, who cares any more?

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/Cheryl-Cole-Messy-Little-Raindrops-300x300.jpg

Cheryl Cole - Messy Little Raindrops
Messy little songs, really. Absolute zero longevity or creativity.

http://sevenfootsounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/kesha-300x300.jpg

Ke$ha - Cannibal
I'd rather she just vanished from popularity right now if this is what we're going to be lumbered with every year.

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/Kylie-Minogue-Aphrodite-300x300.jpg

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite
Even her fans cite this as a deteriorated album, and as people who believe 'Fever' is the best album of all time, that doesn't speak highly of this...

http://homerecordingbootcamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/maroon-5-hands-all-over-300x300.jpg

Maroon 5 - Hands All Over
Quite how they got successful in the first place is beyond me. The last of a wave of albums in the mid-2000s with no real staying power or interesting material.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/11/Mark-Ronson-Record-Collection-300x300.jpg

Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. - Record Collection
This was firmly cemented as my worst album of the year until BEP came along. It's drab, it's messily put together, it's a huge fall from grace and everything that summarises him: boring, devoid of personality and poseur.

[Tom]

^ Agree with most but Rihanna. Not got her album but I like every song shes released off that album

[Shaun]

Yeah I like the singles too...but the rest :(

[Jayson]

You forgot Kele's album in the try harder next time section (although hopefully he forgets about solo stuff and goes back with Bloc Party)

[Smithy]

I knew you were gonna want Ke$ha to kill herself :bawling:

[Tom4784]

I pretty much agree.

[Shaun]

You forgot Kele's album in the try harder next time section (although hopefully he forgets about solo stuff and goes back with Bloc Party)

Aaah, I deleted his album. But yeah I agree.

[Z]

Word.

[MeMyselfAndI]

are there any albums you actually like?????

[Shaun]

I'm doing my top 30 later.

[Shaun]

http://musicologymag.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/The_Drums-300x300.jpg

#30 - The Drums - The Drums
Only just scraped onto my list because some of the more retro vibes this throws out. It's sort of like the Beach Boys, if they'd started on the east coast instead... the themes and tunes are lovely.

http://www.thecouchsessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cee-lo-lady-killer-album-cover-300x300.jpg

#29 - Cee Lo - The Lady Killer
More of the same really - nice classic sounds, great voice and whilst there's a certain lack of depth, it's a nice little sojourn into the 60s.

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/My-Chemical-Romance-Danger-Days-The-True-Lives-Of-The-Fabulous-Killjoys-300x300.jpg

#28 - My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
It's certainly no Black Parade, but it's a nice little ray of sunshine in an otherwise far too serious and miserable self-serving discography. It dips in places but there're a lot of fun tracks.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/06/Delta-Spirit-History-From-Below-300x300.jpg

#27 - Delta Spirit - History From Below
I caught them on Jools Holland one time and they've got a real Killers vibe to them - exciting, electronic-tinged rock and a tendency to tell stories with their songs rather than go for general love ballads. I thoroughly recommend them.

http://www.soulculture.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/skunk-anansie-wonderlustre-cover-300x300.jpg

#26 - Skunk Anansie - Wonderlustre
It really makes the grade on the merit of about 5 tracks, plus my excitement to have them back from hiatus. It's a lot more soft than their previous albums but I'm just happy to have Skin back on the scene...her voice :love:

[Tom4784]

Skunk Anansie & Danger Days <3.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

i would lol if kesha read this and killed herself

[Shaun]

i would lol if kesha read this and killed herself

pmsl. I'd feel SLIGHTLY guilty. lol nawt

[Shaun]

http://berglovespizza.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/robyn-bodytalk-pt1-300x300.jpg

#25 - Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1
Quite a decent pop album by any standard. No really naff tracks, plenty of good tunes and a little dabble of unusual influences (in the form of a Swedish nursery rhyme) - easily the best of her 3 this year.

http://www.mundofanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/mgmt-congratulations-2010-300x300.jpg

#24 - MGMT - Congratulations
Probably a big disappointment for most, I actually quite enjoyed the weird psychedelic electronics on this. By no means not a pop-pickers album, but there were still a handful of decent tunes in 'Brian Eno', 'Flash Delirium' and 'Song for Dan Treacy'.

http://www.addictmusic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/villagers_jackal_album-300x300.jpg

#23 - Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
A lot of interesting, poetic lyrics here to accompany some pretty unchallenging music. It's very mellow but there's also something quite mythical about it all.

http://musicrocksoursocks.eg.vg/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/James-Blunt-Some-Kind-Of-Trouble-Official-Album-Cover-300x300.jpg

#22 - James Blunt - Some Kind of Trouble
-loses 10 man/credibility points-
But in all seriousness, whether you believe me or not is irrelevant: I genuinely enjoy his music. There's some great songwriting here and some shocks too (notably 'Turn Me On'), but it all comes together wonderfully.

http://www.meg.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/klaxons-surfing-the-void2-300x300.jpg

#21 - Klaxons - Surfing the Void
I much preferred this to their debut. There're some interesting developments on their former 'bash at a keyboard and call it 'energy'' style, and whilst it fared averagely in reviews and chart success, I enjoyed it.

[Shaun]

http://nodata.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/The-Five-Ghosts-300x300.jpg

#20 - Stars - The Five Ghosts
I've only really discovered this band lately. They have quite a few nice songs. The album's quite varied really, lots of low-key indie electronic pop, but without being depressing as the XX. The vocalist sounds quite a bit like Ellie Goulding. Not everyone's cup of tea, and not my favourite, but pleasant enough.

http://www.forfolkssake.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Antony-And-The-Johnsons-Swanlights-300x300.jpg

#19 - Antony and the Johnsons - Swanlights
Not my favourite of Hegarty's albums but to be honest I haven't listened to this properly. What is evident though is a significant improvement in the songwriting: it's gone from generic moaning to quite beautiful songs - with a guest appearance from Björk to boot.

http://nu-soulmag.com/musings/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/kelis-fleshtone-cover-300x300.jpg

#18 - Kelis - Flesh Tone
Well for starters it's the only Kelis album I've liked throughout. It's what every current pop/dance album is not - cleverly crafted, cohesive and structured, and reinforces tune after tune. Very impressive.

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/06/The-Gaslight-Anthem-American-Slang-300x300.jpg

#17 - The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
It's so Springsteen-inspired that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was his. But for every criticism I can make about Brucie, his songs capture the imaginations of everyone and the craftsmanship behind this album is commendable. I recommend 'Boxer' and 'Bring It On'.

http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/thumbs/www/articles_2010_07_08/grinderman2_300x300.jpg?1278605574

#16 - Grinderman - Grinderman 2
Their second album (surprisingly) now, Nick Cave's sideproject haven't really caught my attention until now...because I'm a bit of a Bad Seeds fan. But the songs here are eclectic: some menacing, some heartfelt, some emotional, some angry. I love how accidentally aggressive it sounds.

[Z]

Flesh Tone is probably my favourite album from this year, I'm curious as to what else placed higher!

[Shaun]

http://www.briangardiner.ca/rambleon/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/robert-plant-band-of-joy-artwork-300x300.jpg

#15 - Robert Plant - Band of Joy
I've never come across any of his solo/side project material other than this so where it compares to his back-catalogue is quite beyond me. But I think it's quite a pleasant, mature love album and sounds more Beatles (particularly You Can't Buy My Love) than Zeppelin...

http://www.ssgmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ole-942-300x300.jpg

#14 - Perfume Genius - Learning
A very simplistic album. He's got a very raspy voice and over the simplest piano tunes it struck an immediate chord with me - I can't remember where exactly I found him, but I'm glad I did.

http://musosguide.com/public_html/musos.wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/belle_and_sebastian_write_about_love-300x300.jpg

#13 - Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love
Has some great collaborations with Norah Jones and a surprising one in the actress Carey Mulligan, but on the whole I think it's built on their typical mellow sound with some genuine romantic music - it's more symphonic and harmonic than their previous material.

http://blog.ourstage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Album-art-Kings-of-Leon-Come-around-sundown-300x300.jpg

#12 - Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown
It was pretty much universally panned everywhere I read apart from Q and Rolling Stone, and I'm not sure why. Maybe they were built up as the new stadium-rock gods by the idiot media and were then surprised to hear a return to their more bluesy, Southern-tinged sound. I personally loved this.

http://musicrocksoursocks.eg.vg/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Lissie-Catching-A-Tiger-300x300.jpg

#11 - Lissie - Catching a Tiger
It's got so many songs that sound immediately familiar despite me playing them very seldom - and I think that's evident of how potent and warm her music is. It's not really surprising when you read comparisons of her to the great Stevie Nicks - her voice has that smokiness and the songwriting has that spot-on accuracy she did.

[Tom4784]

I got mixed feelings on it so far, I didn't like MGMT's new album it was too pretentious and Kaxons' album was very hit & Miss. I liked Come Around Sundown more then I used to.

[CaraRawr]

My Chemical Romance :lovedup:

[Shaun]

oh shoo.

[Damaris]

The Drums should be higher!

[Shaun]

so should I :sad:

[Shaun]

http://dailyalbum.clintonmontague.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Scissor-Sisters-Night-Work-300x300.jpg

#10 - Scissor Sisters - Night Work
It's not a patch on their debut but to be honest I think that'll be unassailable. However, it was a significant improvement on Ta-Dah! - they've capitalised on current electronic trends to produce an album of absolute floorfilling, feelgood anthems and even despite my criticisms for the genre and its many pitfalls this year (Black Eyed Peas, The Ting Tings, The Hoosiers, Katy Perry...) it's proved that electro can be imaginative, fun and unpredictable.

http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/mp3crank.com_cover-MIA-300x300.jpg

#9 - M.I.A. - /\/\ /\ Y /\
Cruelly overlooked by most end-of-year lists I've read - it probably isn't as clever or cultured as previous albums Kala or Arular, but it's certainly her most diverse album musically. From dubstep influences in 'Meds and Feds' to pure electro-pop on 'XXXO' it's a great conceptual piece and allegory on sexuality in the media, censorship, technology and still retains some of her Sri Lankan political outbursts.

http://lazybrighton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Beachcombers-300x300.jpg

#8 - Stornoway - Beachcomber's Windowsill
It's quite an eclectic record, it goes from strings-led melodramatic ballads to acoustic folk-indie. You'd like them if you like Mumford and Sons or the new Kings of Leon album. Very simple, roots-y rock with some nice, unexpected pop twinges (particularly 'Here Comes the Blackout...!')

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/01/VampireWeekendContra-300x300.jpg

#7 - Vampire Weekend - Contra
A vast improvement on their debut album, which seemed too onesided and safe. There's a lot of unusual keyboards and instrumental effects on this album but there's still their consistency and knack for a cute, infectious tune.

http://www.buzzbinmagazine.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/the-black-keys-brothers-300x300.jpg

#6 - The Black Keys - Brothers
Only a recent discovery for me but this has the same kind of buzz and energy that the Arctic Monkeys debut had. The sound is somewhere inbetween T. Rex and Kasabian - the former notable on 'Howlin' For You' and the latter on 'Tighten Up'. I'm sure it'll grow on me even more.

[Shaun]

http://www.radiatorhymn.com/wp-content/photos/janelle_monae_arch_android-300x300.jpg

#5 - Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
Probably the most exciting new female artist I've been introduced to this year (sorry Nicki) - this album is actually an orchestrated masterpiece. It flips between R&B, classical, soul and pop seamlessly and has track after track of sublime tune. Her appearance and artistry are intriguing and refreshingly innovative - using her android character as a space-exploring barrier shatterer, both musically and socially.

[Shaun]

http://hellovegetables.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Sleigh-Bells-Treats-300x300.jpg

#4 - Sleigh Bells - Treats
The most high-octane, exciting and unusual album I've listened to all year: full of frenzied drumbeats, ear-shattering synth effects and all the while somehow retaining pop-pitched tunes through vocalist Alexis Krauss' delivery. Probably the best female-led band/group I've heard since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

[Shaun]

http://cdn.theurbandaily.com/files/2010/11/my_beautiful_dark_twisted_fantasy_kanye_west_526x5 261-300x300.png

#3 - Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
I never expected to like an album from him this much. Granted, I've never heard any of his previous albums all the way through - but the self-flagellation, the experimentation, the showmanship and the quite rightly assured confidence all build to make this potentially the best album by a rapper I've heard.

[Shaun]

http://www.forfolkssake.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/john-grant-queen-of-denmark-300x300.jpg

#2 - John Grant - Queen of Denmark
I've never encountered him in The Czars so his voice was a breath of fresh air to me this year - the lyrics are hauntingly blunt and revealing, and to be honest any album that has songs about Sigourney Weaver's filmography, honky-tonk pianos and samples the Exorcist piano tune is an instant winner.

[Legend killer]

Kanye West's new album is fuken brilliant , the next one will be even better as he is teaming up with Jay-Z

[Shaun]

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/09/Arcade-Fire-The-Suburbs-300x300.jpg

#1 - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Anyone who knows me could have predicted this. I'm in love with the band, and they can't do any wrong in my eyes. The album for me is a worrying inditement on the disappointing mundanity of suburb life, but also glamourises it through soaring strings pieces and their usual beautiful multi-instrumental symphonies. There's something for everyone: pure poppy happiness on 'The Suburbs', aggressive and energetic rock on 'Month of May' and wailing ballads in 'Half Light I'.

and that's all I have to say about 2010 :tongue: thank you to anyone who read.

[Shaun]

Kanye West's new album is fuken brilliant , the next one will be even better as he is teaming up with Jay-Z

Yeah I heard about that - should be good!

[Vladimir]

umg, i've never heard of sleigh bells before, just listened to some of their stuff on youtube, they're really good.

*downloads*

[Braden]

Yay. I'm proud to say I read through that.

It was really interesting, you have good music taste. :love:

[GhettoSuperstar]

No Hot Chip? WHAT!?!?

[Shaun]

ooh I forgot them. I'd put them in the first list - nice, but didn't last long for me.

[InOne]

http://www.theburningear.com/media/2010/09/Arcade-Fire-The-Suburbs-300x300.jpg

#1 - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Anyone who knows me could have predicted this. I'm in love with the band, and they can't do any wrong in my eyes. The album for me is a worrying inditement on the disappointing mundanity of suburb life, but also glamourises it through soaring strings pieces and their usual beautiful multi-instrumental symphonies. There's something for everyone: pure poppy happiness on 'The Suburbs', aggressive and energetic rock on 'Month of May' and wailing ballads in 'Half Light I'.

and that's all I have to say about 2010 :tongue: thank you to anyone who read.

Saw them a few years ago, they were epic :love:

[Harry!]

Very good and interesting list Shaun! :hugesmile:. Here is my nomination for the best Non-English Language album of the year.

http://www.aquafanpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/5700771101627.jpg

:love:

[Stu]

Some great stuff here. The only things I can really complain about are Comedown Before Sundown - which is genuinly one of the worst albums I have ever heard - complete with nauseating Radioactive video which seems to have been shot by the guy who does Center Parcs adverts - and your number one surprisingly.

I am of the opinion that everything Arcade Fire have done since Funeral has been trudging, murky, pretentious piss that sounds so souless and balless it's amazing the same band who actually crafted the majestic Funeral churned it out. A solid, completely up it's own arse album that got the balls wanked off it by the usual press culprits.

[MeMyselfAndI]

http://i33.tinypic.com/2dwglci.jpg

[Smithy]

666299

:laugh2:

[Stu]

Keep going, you two. It's like being at a MENSA dinner party.

[Shaun]

Some great stuff here. The only things I can really complain about are Comedown Before Sundown - which is genuinly one of the worst albums I have ever heard - complete with nauseating Radioactive video which seems to have been shot by the guy who does Center Parcs adverts

I'm not sure really. It's not a patch on Aha Shake Heartbreak and some of the songs do sound the same, but it just clicked with me. I think maybe I was just relieved to hear an album that was more laidback and less "WE HAVE A STADIUM ANTHEM HERE".

- and your number one surprisingly.

I am of the opinion that everything Arcade Fire have done since Funeral has been trudging, murky, pretentious piss that sounds so souless and balless it's amazing the same band who actually crafted the majestic Funeral churned it out. A solid, completely up it's own arse album that got the balls wanked off it by the usual press culprits.

Get out.
Just get out.
-runs away crying-

[Stu]

I'm not sure really. It's not a patch on Aha Shake Heartbreak and some of the songs do sound the same, but it just clicked with me. I think maybe I was just relieved to hear an album that was more laidback and less "WE HAVE A STADIUM ANTHEM HERE".



Get out.
Just get out.
-runs away crying-
Oh the worst of it is yet to come. Wait until Win Butler chucks a few chairs and takes himself and his pot banging, organ bothering dog of a wife off to ditch the rest of them and make an experimental roots reggae record or something.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

i just downloaded tell em

um, is it supposed to sound like that?

i like it but i thought my earphones were broke or something

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

yeah i just looked on YT its supposed to sound like that :blush: