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Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am
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| 2010: Studs, Duds, And The Unheralded
Bit of a breakdown of what I have found to be noteworthy albums thus far this year. Obviously missing quite a bit, and I may post my midway 2010 list soon. | | 1 |  | The Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
STUD: Obviously quite a bit has been made about this album, many dubbing it as ?Album of the Year.? I would have a difficult time arguing with this at the current time, for Kristian Matsson has concocted one of the greatest folk records in recent history. The release flows so cohesively that I find myself never skipping a track, or attempting to pick favorites. Matsson?s guitar work, lyricism, and distinct vocals have presented The Wild Hunt as the album to beat for 2010 thus far.
5/5 | | 2 |  | Titus Andronicus
The Monitor
STUD: Let?s face it, Patrick Stickles can?t sing. His vocals are periodically out of tune, raw, and unmelodic as if the entire album was recorded while Stickles was absolutely hammered. The choruses rely on simple lines such as ?You will always be a loser? and ?The enemy is everywhere,? while much of the songwriting focuses on partying. But this is precisely what makes The Monitor work. By no means is it intended to be perfect, and it appears that Titus Andronicus has accomplished exactly what they had set out to do. Oh, and did I mention the music is fantastic? Bagpipes!
4.5/5 | | 3 |  | The National
High Violet
STUD: So a lot of you have got to be tired about hearing how great The National are. High Violet picks up right where The National left off with Boxer, not necessarily representing a growth, but a continuation. The record is a grower to the fullest extent, while showcasing an astounding display of passion and poignant lyricism. The National have left their mark as indie?s (dare I say) greatest contemporary group with both Alligator and Boxer, and High Violet falls right into the same category.
4.5/5 | | 4 |  | Veil Veil Vanish
Change in the Neon Light
UNHERALDED: These post-punk Cure-worshippers developed quite a debut record this winter, striking comparisons with their heroes as well as other post-punk outfits such as the Bravery. Veil Veil Vanish have already established themselves as a far superior band than the aforementioned group; pulling off the abrasive and dark sound in a much more original and less lame (to put it delicately) way. ?Anthem for a Doomed Youth? is easily one of my favorite songs from 2010.
4/5 | | 5 |  | Free Energy
Stuck on Nothing
UNHERALDED: Free Energy?s debut is nothing more than an exuberant and quintessential summer record, relying on monstrous hooks and an infectious aura. To say that Stuck on Nothing is a feel-good record does not even to begin to describe how uplifting the music really is, especially this time of year.
4/5 | | 6 |  | We Are the U nion
Great Leaps Forward
UNHERALDED: A great leap forward for a band that appears to have tremendous potential. The Ann Arbor native punk-ska rockers have crafted a focused and compelling sophomore release, which is both gritty and melodic. Overall, Great Leaps Forward is not ground-breaking, and may not even make your end of year list. It is however, undoubtedly a worthy listen.
3.5/5 | | 7 |  | Barenaked Ladies
All in Good Time
DUD: Be honest, some of you didn?t even know these guys are still around. All in Good Time showcases a band?s response to departed member Steve Page, who had shared a great deal of the vocal work with Ed Robertson in the past. The Barenaked Ladies had always been at their best when humor was infused into their music, and this is sorely missed on All in Good Time. The record is littered with pedestrian ballads, while the attempts at humor are half-assed and not well executed. All in Good Time isn?t terrible, but it seems as though the Barenaked Ladies are missing more than just Steve Page.
2.5/5 | | 8 |  | Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
DUD: Alright, so it isn?t exactly fair to expect an Alice in Chains-esque comeback, mostly due to the fact that they haven?t been through as much shit. The Stone Temple Pilots still have all of the members though, even if some appear to be elsewhere (cough, cough Scott Weiland). Weiland appears to be going through the motions, both on vocals and on the songwriting end, which are conveyed through some truly terrible choruses. The music is enough to save this from being an utter disaster, but this makes me wonder whether they should have gotten back together in the first place.
2.5/5 | | 9 |  | Band
Album | |
EVedder27
06.10.10 | Stud honorable mentions:
Spoon - Transference
Frightened Rabbit - Winter of Mixed Drinks
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang | Counterfeit
06.10.10 | WHERE....THE FUCK.....IS DEFTONES?!.....
nah bit good list | Douglas
06.10.10 | Get on: Lone Wolf - The Devil and I | EVedder27
06.10.10 | doug that sounds awesome thanks | Douglas
06.10.10 | Yeah man, I only got it the other day, and haven't stopped listening his voice is exquisite! | EVedder27
06.10.10 | have you heard Frank Turner - Love Ire & Song? Easily one of the best records I've come across lately. | 8bit
06.10.10 | These all make sense but I really expected the duds to be duds anyway. | Romulus
06.10.10 | I like this idea a lot. I really want to give 5 a listen but all my friends like it and I have a vendetta against anything my friends en masse suggest to me. | EVedder27
06.10.10 | yeah the duds are pretty much expected duds, although there isn't much that has disappointed me this year.
Also rom you should at least give it a shot, I mean it's pretty unoriginal stuff but really fun | Romulus
06.10.10 | I definitely will at some point, probably 4 as well | Ire
06.10.10 | expected to see dark tranquility as a dud
| AnotherBrick
06.10.10 | at least 7 and 8 still put on one amazing show | EVedder27
06.10.10 | agreed Brick, I saw Barenaked Ladies back in the day and it was pretty awesome
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