Albums Of The Year - Part 3: Numbers 10 - 1

So yeah, welcome back and all that. Here is the bit where I go count down from number 10 to number 1 on my 2010 end of year albums chart (AKA the good bit).

Here's a recap of what's been before this ten: Part 1 or Part 2:

30. The Count And Sinden - Mega Mega Mega
29. Shy Child - Liquid Love
28. Sleigh Bells - Treats
27. Sky Larkin - Kaleide
26. Magnetic Man - Magnetic Man
25. Simian Mobile Disco - Delicacies
24. Four Tet - There Is Love In You
23. The Chemical Brothers - Further
22. Mystery Jets - Serotonin
21. The Knife, in collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock - Tomorrow, In A Year
20. Hot Chip - One Life Stand
19. Everything Everything - Man Alive
18. Chew Lips - Unicorn
17. Klaxons - Surfing The Void
16. We Are Scientists - Barbara
15. Marina & The Diamonds - The Family Jewels
14. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
13. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fanstasy
12. Best Coast - Crazy For You
11. We Have Band - WHB

Is the scroll button on your mouse still working? Jolly good!

Number 10

Surfer Blood
Astro Coast

UK release date: 7th June 2010
Kanine






There's been an abundance of American music in this list, and whilst I can't explain why this is, I will offer Surfer Blood as an example of American's making great music.

Astro Coast is a riff-laden, air-guitar-worthy record that more people should really check out, and Surfer Blood were one of my personal highlights at this year's Camden Crawl and Reading Festival.

Download: Swim / Anchorage / Floating Vibes

Number 9

Foals
Total Life Forever

UK release date: 10th May 2010
Warner Bros UK






Like so many of the bands releasing sophomore records in this list, Foals have found what they're good at, and then went ahead and perfected it, with great results.

Total Life Forever is the work who have developed an incredible amount in a short amount of time, and for making an album that pairs stripped-back emotion and dancefloor fillers worthy of their debut Antidotes, Oxford's second finest (behind Radiohead, obviously) are worthy of all the praise they receive.

Download: Spanish Sahara / This Orient / 2 Trees

Number 8

Hurts
Happiness

UK release date: 6th September 2010
RCA






I'd like to think that I have a keen ear for the ever-lucrative 'next big thing' and with Hurts, I can see a definite potential for greatness.

Happiness certainly has it's influences - namely being Depeche Mode and Joy Division, but this is a wonderfully unique record, and its melancholic edges with modern cultural references offer a level of sincerity unmatched on any 'pop' album this year.

Download: Wonderful Life / Sunday / Better Than Love

Number 7

Delphic
Acolyte

UK release date: 11th January 2010
Chimeric / Polydor






For quite a while I've been a keen fan of Delphic (since some of the early singles surfaced on the internet in Spring 2009) and even though Acolyte has been 'available' for over a year, it still feels fresh every time I listen.

Another band that have impressed me with their frenetic (and that's just the amount of retina-killing strobe lighting they use) live performances over the last year, I eagerly await the production of new material.

Download: Doubt / Acolyte / Counterpoint

Number 6

Two Door Cinema Club
Tourist History

UK release date: 1st March 2010
Kitsune / V2






When I first heard this album I really wasn't sure about it. Besides the singles, I thought it was a little shallow, with a lot of filler. But after watching them live at Reading Festival I decided to give this a second chance. And I haven't looked back since.

This is the highest debut record in the list, and if Two Door Cinema Club can continue on the path they've set out for themselves, then they will certainly feature on future 'end of year' lists in years to come.

Download: Something Good Can Work / Do You Want It All / Undercover Martyn

Number 5

These New Puritans
Hidden

UK release date: 18th January 2010
Angular






These New Puritans have left no detail uncovered in what is an challenging listen - even the sound of skulls cracking has been replicated by attaching crackers to watermelons with Sellotape.

Although this record was never initially intended for a live audience, TNP have began to tour, but only with the extensive support of orchestras around the world, which is a live experience that I really want to witness in the next year...

Download: We Want War / Attack Music / Orion

Number 4

Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles II

UK release date: 24th May 2010
Polydor






There's something quite alluring about Crystal Castles, despite all the criticism they attract for Ethan Kath skulking in the background or Alice Glass' going (literally) mental on stage.

Despite its unimaginative title, Crystal Castles II really allows the band to unleash their creative potential, and the result shows progress from their debut. The Robert Smith reworking of 'Not In Love' is well worth a listen.

Download: Not In Love (Feat. Robert Smith) / Baptism / Celestica

Number 3

Arcade Fire
The Suburbs

UK release date: 2nd August 2010
Mercury






Back in 2005, Arcade Fire's Funeral topped my end of year list on the basis that its quality was like a beacon, and although they have to settle for third place this year, it is by no means a lesser listen.

The Suburbs is a much darker record than anything the band have released to date, and if I had the money I would have brought this eight times over (once for every different cover artwork there is).

Download: We Used To Wait / The Suburbs / Ready To Start

Number 2

LCD Soundsystem
This Is Happening

UK release date: 17th May 2010
EMI






It's a shame that James Murphy has effectively called time on LCD Soundsystem, because even if the band don't wish to continue releasing albums or playing live, there's still a hell of a lot of people that would love it if they did.

Although it's not an easy a listen as the first two LCD records, the quality is still there, and therefore deserves more recognition than it was given in the UK music press.

Download: Drunk Girls / Pow Pow / Home

Number 1

Los Campesinos!
Romance Is Boring

UK release date: 1st February 2010
Wichita / Polydor






Those who know a lot about my musical tastes will probably not be surprised at this result, and may even have guessed a long time ago. But the truth is, predicable or otherwise, Romance Is Boring sits atop this chart because it is far and away the best thing I have listened to this year.

Thankfully in this modern era the mp3 doesn't wear out in the way that its predecessors the cassette tape and 12" vinyl do, because I would have needed about three or four copies (my Last FM chart page has Los Camp! at over 1200 listens in the last year or so).

I have been fortunate enough to see the band live nearly half a dozen times in the last 12 months, and the signed setlists, albums and 7" singles are kept safe for the sake of posterity (and hope of fiscal gain!)

In interviews the band have said the album is about "the death and decay of the human body, sex, lost love, mental breakdown, football, and ultimately, that there isn't a light at the end of the tunnel". Yet despite those mostly negative issues, the lyrics are sharp and clever, leading to songs that are still positively upbeat.

Download: In Medias Res / The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future / A Heat Rash In The Shape Of The Show Me State; Or Letters From Me To Charlotte

Don't feel compelled to just stick to those three tracks, the rest is still amazing...

Once again, I feel obliged to thank you (the reader) for bothering to scroll through all of my thoughts and musings, especially when for many people tweeting 140 characters about inane goings-on in their lives is hard enough.

If there are any records that you think I've missed out on, or overlooked, please let me know in the comments section - I'm always looking for new things to listen to!

Also, I'll now have to carry on writing about PR-centric stuff, as that's what this blog is supposed to be for!

Paul