Tipp’s Top Picks of the Year
By: Steve Tipp
Despite what felt like a really great year for music, it might have been a better time for songs than for albums as I could only come up with 7 albums that I really liked. Probably the statement here is that the album length format is on its way out and shorter formats of music may well could and should become the norm. Let’s not get started about the woes of the music biz and let’s take it straight to the top 10’s…
Top Albums:
· The XX – XX – this is such a cool minimalist album. Simple, beautiful, conceptual. (Resourceful music seekers may want to find the Biggie vs. Tupac vs. The xx song Runnin With The xx; actually lots of bands even ‘80’s electronic popsters OMD are covering the xx). Top 2010 Single Contender: Crystalized
· The Black Keys – Brothers – this is another album that feels conceptual in its design and execution. My first exposure to this group, rockin’, contemporary & BLUESY…
· LCD Soundsystem – Early in the year this was clearly my #1 and I was completely convinced Dance Yrself Clean was going to be a hit at alternative radio. I still love this adventurous electronic album but my prediction for radio-hit-dom, not so accurate. (You might also want to dig up an earlier nugget Daft Punk Is Playing At My House, it seriously reminds me of the parties we would throw at my parent’s house long, long ago).
· Broken Bells – Broken Bells; this collaboration of producer Dangermouse and Shins James Mercer is another one of the few beautiful indie pop albums this year I never tired of. Light, melodic and hook-ey. Top 2010 Single Contenders: The High Road & Ghost Inside
· Fitz & The Tantrums – Pickin’ Up The Pieces – This is a contemporary, blue eyed soul group from Los Angeles (and the hip/successful LA indie label Dangerbird Records). Rockin’ new millennium Hall & Oates. This is the kind of artist I would get passionate about getting on the radio because I believed it would stand out and make a positive difference for the station and the audience would really respond to it. Ah I am getting nostalgic again… Top 2010 Single Contenders: Money Grabber, frankly nearly every song on this album is a winner!
· Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Who is nutty as a fruit cake and yet made one of the great albums of the year? These are strange times indeed. But if he can use King Crimson’s 21st Century Schizoid Man and make it work in a hip hop hit, he has got talent hidden beneath his batsh!t persona. Really an eclectic listenable record from end to end. Single Contenders: Power, Gorgeous
· Arcade Fire – The Suburbs – It was support an indie record shop day this summer and I was drawn to Albums on the Hill in Boulder Colorado and I picked this up. An independent album release debuting at #1 on Billboard is a big deal in any decade. This might not be everyone cup of tea but it is super, quirky, English, indie rock. Their appearance on SNL was polarizing but I love the album their awkward performance reminded me of one of my favorite indie UK artists: New Order. The real estate themes work for me too! Top 2010 Single Contenders: Sprawl II, Ready To Start, We Used To Wait
Other Top 2010 Single Contenders: Mark Ronson – Bang Bang Bang; Jason Derulo – Ridin’ Solo, Alicia Keys/Jay Z – Empire State Of Mind, Avett Brothers – Head Full Of Doubt, The Decemberists – Down By The Water
EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.
