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LCD Soundsystem Top Paste's 50 Best Albums Of 2010 List
Pity poor She & Him: Two years ago, their cutesy, reductive take on '50s and '60s AM pop was good enough for their Volume One to be declared as album of the year by Paste Magazine (R.I.P.). This year, Volume Two, an album that was virtually identical in every way to their debut (even in its mediocrity), gets chumped at number 30 on the former mag's countdown of the year's best. But good news for people who have had enough of the alt-country-centric Paste lists (Avett Bros won last year): There is rap in the top five (Kanye West), and the top album is LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening, which is a ballsy pick, especially since they had the fucking Mumford & Sons at number three. That's right, Mumford & Sons. I think that sort of perfectly encapsulates the problems I've had with Paste since I discovered it a few years ago. But anywho, here's their top ten. Go here for the other 40.
1. LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening
2. Janelle Monae: The ArchAndroid
3. Mumford & Sons: This is Not The Third Best Album Of The Year
4. Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Titus Andronicus: The Monitor
6. Sleigh Bells: Treats
7. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
8. Phosphorescent: Here's To Taking It Easy
9. Sufjan Stevens: Age of Adz
10. Frightened Rabbit: Winter Of Mixed Drinks
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Though it totally goes with the alt-country thing (and I have the same issues with it as you Andrew), I like Phosphorescent this high on the list. That album is solid, and has been in my rotation all year.
And the more I listen to Kanye, the more I think it's going to age poorly. Once the size and ego of it subside, it's pretty uneven. Some absolutely killer tracks, but also some dull stuff. I'm not sure it's worthy of all the top 10's (or No. 1's) it's sure to get.
can someone please explain and/or justify the avett brothers' immense popularity?
I feel alone because I like but don't love the Kanye album. I can't explain the Avett Bros popularity. I thought they were really good live but it's not my thing either.
Given that three separate music news websites/ magazines have named The Suburbs, Teen Dream, and This Is Happening as their top album of 2010, I feel it is only a matter of time before someone gives High Violet the nod. It's a great album and I'm sure the National would look dapper on the cover of a Best of 2010 cover.
Daba, I'm with you. New Kanye is good not great.
Susannah, my best guess is that people love folk music by people who sound like they've never actually heard folk music. But that's a just a theory.