10 THRILLING SONGS OF 2010

Once a year i indulge myself and write a whole bunch of music journo sounding crap about the music i've come to enjoy in the preceding year. Most of this shit makes me cringe to re-read it as I feel much more comfortable on the 'musician' side of the equation, but I do think it is valuable to purge your thoughts on music if only to better understand what you like about your own...

In any case, perhaps you might hear something that you haven't heard before, or even better you may find something re-affirming what you already liked this year. We're not alone.

I'm going to post a list of my favourite albums in the next couple days, til then...

10 SONGS THAT THRILLED ME, MADE IN 2010 (IN NO SPECIAL ORDER)

Gonjasufi - 'DedNd'

Filth. Disgustingly Raw. This is a real dust-dripper. Paint stripper. Every time this song creeps out of a closet a spin is stolen from that future sample-psych LP that Louis Percival and I are going to make.

LISTEN

U.S. Girls - 'Lunar Life'

A song like a riddle, the answer reading: anyway you twist me, this is soul music. Once the geography is clearer the results lace in, the song is devastating. The voice sounds like it is haunting itself, collapsing in and ascending. Both singles that came out this year were fantastic. Modern soul carving itself away from the cultivated. Emotionally potent.

LISTEN

Kanye West - 'Devil In A New Dress'

As far as contemporary producers go Kanye is as brilliant as they come. As far as monolithic celebrity personas go Kanye is as repulsive as they come. Watching that piece of shit companion piece 'film' earlier in the year made it nearly impossible for me to indulge the guy and actually give his LP a straight listen. Despite his grotesque desire to be held in regard as the 'greatest artist of all time,' he actually does find the initiative to make some pretty great sounds. This beat is exquisite, there's no denying it, and I won't.

LISTEN

Caribou - 'Odessa'

Indefatigable, cerebrally funky shit.

LISTEN

Gangrene - 'Not High Enough'

Alchemist is among the only producers since Dilla able to seamlessly slide between introspective crate digging and tuff talk thwump. This track defies physics by blissfully gliding while remorselessly knocking all at once. My favourite rap single of the year.

LISTEN

Owen Pallett - 'Keep The Dog Quiet'

Immaculately produced drama. Disturbed elegance hangs over this track (and much of the album), draping itself, contorting into chaos and snapping back into order all at once. So many balances, an ambitious tightrope walk. I love the vocabulary of the music more than anything, leaning into a pop modernity that would be unachievable with only guitars and drums. Qualities to aspire to, and nick from.

LISTEN

Lil' Wayne - '6", 7"'

All it took to hear Wayne go hard again was slipping the guitar out of his hands. He seriously sounds demented on this. Desperate swag.

LISTEN

Dirty Beaches - 'Golden Desert Sun'

Morrison flavours, heat haze looming soon as the tracks floats into earshot. Collapsing chromatic minimal clutter. Sweat Jam psychedelia. Hot shit, great B side too.

LISTEN

Salem - 'King Night'

Sounding like the kind of shit Shawty Redd (what's up with that murder charge?) might make if he were haunting your house. Terrifying heaviosity. Also authors of my favourite comedy youtube of the year.

LISTEN

Fat Joe - 'Slow Down'

I love this song. It doesn't rattle, it whallops. It also makes the opening of Belly seem kind of disappointing when the beat won't drop...

LISTEN