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The Most Refreshing Albums of 2010

Posted by Jakub

Four Tet
Who am I to say: “Hey, these are the best albums of 2010” or “yo buddy, listen to me, best records right here, check it out” I don’t even play a damn instrument, so I just can’t do that this year(check out my snobby 2008 or 2009 lists though). My final year end list is full of artists and friends that I work with and signed so I had to switch it up a bit here and include musicians that aren’t really in the ISO50/Moodgadget/Ghostly International bubble…yet.

I put together this list of albums that makes me feel good about digging for music everyday, its a job that ISO50 and Ghostly International let me do and i’m very grateful. These albums simply make me as happy as can be, sure there are going to be critics that fill their lists out with artists that sell out arenas but thats not the point here, this list is purely for a unique listening session. I numbered them as a fun activity for myself to do while I sat at a coffee shop making the small banners, I think the order came out pretty well and it hasn’t changed since I sat down and made it last week which is a relief.

I want to thank WordPress for making this playlist way easier to make then I thought it would be but it wouldn’t let me put it in the order I wanted it in *curses the sky*. I linked all the music to purchase, I know I hardly ever do that on the day to day because I find half the fun in hearing new music is the hunt for more of it. Look for my favorite 50 songs of 2010, hopefully i’ll be able to post those early December.


10
Four Tet – There Is Love In You (Domino)

9
Mark McGuire – Living With Yourself (Editions Mego)

8
Salem – King Night (IAMSOUND)

7
Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This (Carpark)

6
Loscil – Endless Falls (Kranky)

5
Caribou – Swim (Merge)

4
Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here? (Editions Mego)

3
The Soft Moon – The Soft Moon (Captured Tracks)

2
Tame Impala – Innerspeaker (Modular)

1
Com Truise – Cyanide Sisters (Self Released)

Honorable Mention:
Bvdub – The Art Of Dying Alone (Glacial Movements)

Forgotten 2009 albums that I listened to in the most 2010:

The Mary Onettes – Islands (Labrador)
Ducktails – Landscapes (Olde English Spelling Bee)

45 Comments Leave A Comment

17

Brendan says:

November 28, 2010 at 8:46 pm

Excellent picks, I’d like to also suggest:

Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma
Octopus Project – Hexadecagon

19

Mik says:

November 29, 2010 at 1:36 am

I nominate Solar Bears, Wild Nothing, Twin Shadow and The Radio Dept to your list. Nice list otherwise.

22

Anonymous says:

November 29, 2010 at 8:51 am

Our year end lists have a lot of overlap. I also have a few suggestions on some new albums to check out too. Thanks.

23

Frames says:

November 29, 2010 at 10:07 am

fourtet was a let down . the album i wanted to like more then i did. worst one he has come out with. it is super static when you break it down.

24

Grallan says:

November 29, 2010 at 10:50 am

Sweet list and i agree with it (Caribou and four tet in particular).
You got some good taste right there bro, although I reckon Gold Panda should have made it in there.
S’all good though.

25

Jakub says:

November 29, 2010 at 11:01 am

@GRALLAN thanks man, Gold Panda is on Ghostly so I couldn’t do it. So is Matthew Dear, Mux Mool, Shigeto, School Of 7 Bells, etc the list goes on, I would have had to just rank those all and it would be a mess

26

Blake Barton says:

November 29, 2010 at 11:56 am

I’m glad that Com Truise got the top spot. I was thinking the other day how his EP was, suprisingly, my favorite release this year…and it was a free release!

27

Stella says:

November 29, 2010 at 3:32 pm

Jakub
I think making a good playlist takes a large amount of skill and creativity and you shouldnt dismiss that.
People read this blog and look at your musical selections because you too, in a way, are an artist.
This playlist (awesome!) is *your* best of the year.

NOW GO MAKE A DECADE RECAP TOO!

30

Putz says:

November 29, 2010 at 10:24 pm

it seems clearer by the blog that mr. truise will likely debut on ghostly…but maybe it’s just me.…

I’m glad mego is now hot again…Rehberg & co. have been putting out solid shit for a decade now, even if some of it could be argued as forgettable these days …

31

Kristian says:

November 30, 2010 at 3:24 am

Nice list – I just have to (very different) records to apply.

Common Eider, King Eider – Worn Vinyl
(Ambient, Indietronica, Shoegaze)
Simian Mobile Disco – Delicacies
(Tech-house, Techno, Electro, Psychedelic)

35

Jakub says:

December 3, 2010 at 1:40 pm

@PATRICK its their branding, soo raw and uncensored, I listen to Trapdoor once a week, @ 0:53 that one shitty synth comes and grabs my attention every time, I can’t deny the enjoyment

40

DesoNoto says:

December 6, 2010 at 1:08 pm

Excellent list. I’ve had Emerald’s album on my “to listen” list, and I think it’s about time I gave them the time. I also discovered Com Truise through his remix on Neon Indian’s “Sleep Paralysist.” Amazing stuff to say the least. I’m glad I found out he has a self-released EP. Thanks so much for the blog post.

41

wayne says:

December 6, 2010 at 2:39 pm

I picked up Tame Impala’s album the other day, partly on a whim and partly on the advice of this post.

I was actually quite impressed. I didn’t think I’d really like it (it’s currently on ‘play to death’ mode on Triple J, usually means I’ll be sick of it within a fortnight), but I was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for liking something I wouldn’t have liked unless someone else did first :)

43

Artur says:

December 9, 2010 at 7:38 am

Well, i didn´t knew The Soft Moon, i got the album and was listening to it on my iPod when i left work and it was already dark and raining.. and the music just suited perfectly with the environment around me.. the city lights, traffic, rain, darkness… awesome.

45

jons says:

December 26, 2010 at 4:54 pm

Great list! I would just add Christopher Willits – Tiger Fower Circle Sun. Mind melting release on Ghostly.