Does the world need another year end review list? No. Will that prevent me from shoving another music related Top Ten list down your gullets? No.
While we are primarily about humor and cartoons here (and apparently football too from what the other tools on here keep posting), music is definitely a big deal at Finktoons HQ. With that in mind I would like to give you my top ten albums of 2010 (plus some bonus lists for your pleasure). Please keep in mind that I was a professional music journalist/critic, so my opinion does matter more than yours.
Top Ten Albums 2010 (No particular order)
The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
I know, I know this album in on a million shitty/trendy year end lists by douche bag music journalists who think Kanye, Vampire Weekend and the National are the second coming of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but the fact remains this is an excellent album. I loved their previous releases (Sink or Swim and The ’59 Sound) and therefore had extremely high expectations for this album, and while it might not have been everything I hoped, it’s still damn good. Catchy, anthemic, solid lyrics, punk rock attitude…what more do you want.
Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
After an obscenely long “hiatus”, the kings of 90s “indie rock” return to form with “Majestry Shredding”. Nothing fancy, just Mac McCaughan and co. blasting out some awesomely catchy, guitar buzzing, beautiful indie rock. Take note future rock starts, writing good songs trumps all media hype and publicity stunts and no amount of twitter followers can mask the fact your music blows goats.
Iron Chich – Not Like This
Be warned, if you listen to this album the songs will bore themselves into your brain and never come out. Ex-Latterman and Ex-Small Arms Dealer join forces to produce the best gruffy voice, alcohol fueled, sing-a-long pop-punk album of the year. This is my jam!
Nails – Unsilent Death
BRUTAL. Simply BRUTAL. Ex-Terror guitarist strikes out on his own to produce one of the best hardcore/grindcore hybrid albums. Everything about this band is intense and if you’re not careful the breakdowns will cave in your skull. For fans of Entombed, Drop Dead, Pig Destroyer and Napalm Death all being thrown in a blender and pressed on vinyl. Fuck, Rob Moran from Unbroken likes this so it must be good.
Everyone Everywhere – “S/T”
I present to you exhibit “A” in my all music trends go in circles theory. Here is an amazing album by a bunch of young whipper snappers that so closely channels Promise Ring and early Piebald it almost makes me cry like I did when I was in high school and girls were ignoring me. Prehistoric emo kids take note.
Kvelertak – “S/T”
What happens when you mix Turbonegro with black metal and sing only in Norwegian? …Um, I’m waiting for an answer… Come on people, work with me here! Honestly, if you can’t piece together the fact I am alluding to this awesome album by a band you can’t pronounce, then you’ve got bigger problems and need to stop wasting your time reading year end “best of” lists.
Someone Still Love you Boris Yeltsin - “Let it Sway”
Pure, unadulterated, pop gold. This shit is so catchy it hurts. If you have a tendency to tap your foot to good, poppy, music be warned this album will probably give you shin splints.
Ceremony- Rohnert Park/ Trash Talk – Eyes and Nines
Wait…two albums, WTF? I know, I know I am cheating but both these albums slay and represent some of the best the hardcore world had to offer in 2010. Both are pushing the boundaries of the genre (Ceremony more so) and both bands put on some of the best live performances out there today. Plus, they both do the screamy-fast hardcore thing really really well, so there they belong together.
Masshysteri – “S/T”
Ex members of T(I)NC and The Vicious churning out amazing retro-77’/garage-y style pop-punk. Dual male/female vocals and a lo-fi sound are icing on this punk rock masterpiece. Think Gorilla Angreb with more punk attitude. Plus, it’s all in Swedish so you don’t need to learn the lyrics to look cool in front of your friends.
Menzingers – Chamberlain Waits
Really well crafted, heartfelt and catchy punk rock. Fist pumping, beer drinking, sing-a-long laden glory through and through. For punks who wear their hearts on their sleeves and their hair on their faces (and necks).
Honorable mentions
- None More Black – Icons
- The Dopamines – Expect the Worst
- Black Breath – Heaving Breathing
- RVIVR – LP
- Hellmouth – Destroy Everything, Worship Nothing
- Ted Leo – The Brutalist Bricks
Top 4 Eps/7”/splits
1. Know Your Saints – Escape Artist EP – Best new band of 2010!
2. RVIVR – Dirty Water EP – It’s the best thing RVIVR has put out and that is saying a lot.
3. Tigers Jaw/Balance and Composure – Split 12” – Both bands put some great stuff on this release, but the Tigers Jaw stuff is next level.
4. Maker/Story So Far – Split 7” – Straight up guilty pleasure pop-punk, but good none the less.
Top 5 Shows of 2010
1. Sleep @ Regency Ballroom – September 12, 2010
2. Soviettes and Cheap Girls @ Triple Rock Social Club (Minneapolis, MN) – November 12, 2010
3. Kind of Like a Fest (Shook Ones, Seahaven, Black Breath, Make Do and Mend etc.) @Half Moon Bay Center – August 7, 2010
4. Filth @ Thee Parkside – June 6, 2010
5. Banner Pilot/Teenage Bottle Rocket @ Bottom on the Hill July 16, 2010
