The Best Albums of 2010

Yes, it's massively late (being sick and lazy over Christmas will put a dent in your productivity!) but I've finally managed to compile my list of my favourite releases of 2010. Here are the albums that tickled my fancy, gave me goosebumps and generally made me happy:

 
10. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

Multi-instrumentalist Canadian band Arcade Fire took to the stage for two nights at Dublin's O2 Arena recently as a stop-off on their 2010 tour to promote their newest release The Suburbs. What was obvious to anyone who saw them live either night is that the band certainly don't do anything by halves.

Arcade Fire's third studio album moves between intimate gems and huge, belting arena-rock stompers, all the while staying true to the vast, orchestral sound that makes the band so appealing. The Suburbs is adventurous, commanding and will completely transport you away in its euphoric musical mayhem. Magical stuff!

Here's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" for your listening pleasure!

9. Kings of Leon- Come Around Sundown

The reviews were mixed on Kings of Leon's fifth studio album when it was released in October but I absolutely loved it. Yes, Youth and Young Manhood and Because of the Times were more impressive and still stand as my personal favourites from the Tennessee rockers, but Come Around Sundown still packed a pretty decent punch.

Full of arena-rock anthems yet still drenched in that boozy down South beauty Kings of Leon are loved for, the album has lashings of stellar lyrics, edgy guitars and boucy bass lines that echo their earlier work. These guys know exactly what they're doing. Roll on Slane!

I realise this song appears on Only by the Night but this performance of it never fails to give me chills:

8. Cathy Davey- The Nameless

One of Ireland's lovliest and most talented female singer-songwriters, Cathy Davey has had a great 2010. Her third full-length album, The Nameless, was released in May with its first single, "Little Red" debuting on her MySpace Page. Davey's song "Rescue" was used in the ABC TV series The Gates, her other track "Holy Moly" was played at the end of British thriller film The Disappearnance of Alice Creed, she was recently named as the face of the new Lexus hybrid (which I blogged about here) and she was involved in efforts to raise funds in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. And, to top it all off, she recently appeared alongside other Rarities favourite Lisa Hannigan, Neil Hannon and David O'Doherty at Turning Pirate's Mixed Tape New Year's Eve Party at Vicar Street- busy lady!

The Namless is an enchanting album that also features Villagers' Conor J. O'Brien, who makes a guest appearance on "Army of Tears". The single was released in July and was debuted on Saturday Night with Miriam.

Here's a very special performance by Cathy and Lisa of the classic "Blue Moon" on RTÉ's Saturday Night Show:

7. Jamey Johnson- The Guitar Song

I am a big fan of Nashville and was in my element when I finally got to visit there this summer. One of my favourite things to come out of the Tennessee town this year is Jamey Johnson's release, The Guitar Song.

Divided into a Black and a White album, the record is a double LP that boasts no less than 25 songs, yet is still modest and relaxed in its overall delivery. Johnson isn't showy and he isn't trying to hard. The concept, which touches on personal, societal, historic and even spiritual meanderings, is understated and subtle with the focus being primarily on the songs themselves.

The album is deliciously rich, conjuring beautiful images and evoking that real, aching emotion for the listener. And there is certainly a song on here for every emotion. As a whole The Guitar Song is colourful and exquisite, and showcases Johnson's gruff and gritty baritone perfectly. Timeless.

6. Vampire Weekend- Contra

The second album from New York indie-rockers Vampire Weekend impressed me big time; here's what I originally had to say about it on its release:

"Contra boasts a punchy and upbeat sound while further drawing on the Afro influences that made Vampire Weekend's self-tited debut album so addictive. Also thrown into the mix are breezy Californian-infused vibes and reggae twists, which result in a much more laidback and melodic feast for the ears."

It definitely belongs on this list. Read my full review here.

5. The National- High Violet

High Violet was an album that further cemented The National's already incredible career. The Brooklyn-based band gave fans a taster of what was to come on the new release when they performed track "Terrible Love" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon two months before its release, following that up with a great performance (with Sufjan Stevens on vocals) on The Late Show with David Letterman (video included below).

High Violet is brimming with humming guitars and unrelenting percussion juxtaposed with gentle orchestration. Deliciously dark and swooning? Most definitely. Beautifully composed? Yes. Fantastic lyrics? Check. The band's best yet? Possibly (I'm still a massive fan of Boxer).

Without a doubt one of the best albums of the year; indie music at its very finest.

4. The Tallest Man on Earth- The Wild Hunt

For his second studio album, folk musician Kristian Matsson hit us with one hell of a follow-up. With superb lyrics and an intricate fingerpicking style, the album's ten earnest and emotion-filled tracks showcase the Swede's Southern drawl at its most spectaculor. It is beautifully evocative and has a deeply intimate feel that will completely draw you in.

The Wild Hunt earned its spot on this list quite easily. As No Ripcord magazine put it, "[Matsson] may act as if he's the tallest man on earth, but he may very well literally be a talent of Goliath proportions." Damn straight. 

Give this a listen:

3. Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can

There was never any doubt that Laura Marling's second album, I Speak Because I Can, was going to appear on my best of 2010 list- I knew back in March within a week of its initial release. The album showcased a fantastic rare and mature voice, was full of Laura's insightful ponderings on love and life and further proved how deserving she was of all the praise she has been receiving since she first emerged on the London nu-folk scene back in 2006. I adore this lady.

I have already ranted about how much I love this album in detail so won't bore you all again, but you can read my full review here.

Here's the utterly gorgeous "Rambling Man" performed live on Later...with Jools Holland:

2. Villagers- Becoming a Jackal

For many people, it was their performance on Later...with Jools Holland on 13th April that did it. The Dublin band, fronted by Conor J. O'Brien, appeared alongside Paul Weller, Hot Chip and Marina and the Diamonds but completely held their own, emerging as the true wonder of the night. O'Brien's dark lyrics and eerily quiet vocals made people sit up and listen and the performance helped in ensuring Villagers had one of the best years an emerging Irish band has ever experienced.

Becoming a Jackal is a phenomenal record. It is beautifully rich and melodic and showcases O'Brien as an incredible talent who can only amount to massive things in 2011.

If you haven't seen this yet you have really missed out:

1. James Vincent McMorrow- Early in the Morning

In September of 2009, I heard a song played on a Barnardos ad at the cinema and the voice behind it completely stopped me in my tracks. I frantically typed the lyrics into my phone as they were sung and Googled them as soon as I got home (I do that a lot). The fantastic talent behind those warm, warbling vocals was James Vincent McMorrow, Ireland's finest new singer-songwriter. A few weeks later, I was lucky enough to get an interview with the Dubliner before his debut Limerick gig upstairs at Dolans. He had this to say about his then forthcoming album:

"I felt like this album had to be a really complete thing, something that, if i was coming upon it for the first time, it would hold my attention from start to finish. I know very few people knew who I was before this record, which is a great thing because you have the freedom to put out whatever kind of record you want to. But at the same time I know who I am, and I know what I love in a record, so my goal was to get as close to that as possible. I love albums that have intimately quiet moments, and ferociously huge moments...."

Early in the Morning is exactly what James hoped it would be. The entire record is stunning. Filled with eerie serenades, lush harmonies, rich instrumentation and beautiful thought-provoking lyrics, it is without a doubt the best album of the year and one of the most impressive albums to come out of Ireland in the last decade- Ronan over at Swear I'm Not Paul agrees with me and wrote a fantastic review of the album on it's release (read it here).  

Early in the Morning left me completely captivated from the first listen. It is just about to be unleashed on the US and Canada (25th January) and later on the UK and the rest of Europe (7th March), which will hopefully see James gain the notereity he so well deserves.

Read my full interview with James here. 

This year I also spent much time listening to...

Josh Ritter So Runs the World Away
Tom McRae The Alphabet of Hurricanes
Ryan Adams Orion
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals III/IV
The Black Keys Brothers
The Dead Weather Sea of Cowards
Frightened Rabbit The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Warpaint The Fool
The Cast of Cheers Chariot
Belle and Sebastian Write About Love
Marina and the Diamonds The Family Jewels
The Drums The Drums
Foals Total Life Forever
LCD Soundsystem This is Happening
These New Puritans Hidden
Beach House Teen Dream
Adebisi Shank This is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
O Emperor Hither Thither
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Gorillaz Plastic Beach
Laura Veirs July Flame
Smoke Fairies Through Low Light and Trees

Did I miss any?