Liz and I at Tikki (Taken with instagram)

So this is my first blogg and why not kick it off with a cliche-ass top 10 records of 2010 countdown.  I felt that this year was “aight”, but by no means a “WOW” year in music as compared to 2009.  I think punk rock came through as the “go to” genre on my list.  These are simply my personal favorites for this year, I don’t care what Billboard, Spin, KCRW, Source, are saying, these are my pics based on what I have heard. Hell I didn’t even give everyone a chance by doing extensive research, so if I left something out its because I did not like it or simply did not come across it. Ready Go!

10. HIM “Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice”

(Sire Records) Feb. 4, 2010

Hailing from Finland, and introduced to mainstream rock in the mid 00’s via Pro-skater Bam Margera, HIM (His Infernal Majesty) brings back their classic “Razorblade Romance” sound which can be compared to a modern Billy Idol with a darker, goth metal side.  (The band also covers “Rebel Yell” live).  If its not the most eye-catching logo in rock music, (google “Heartogram”), then it is Vile Valo’s long range from super low to super high Gothic voice and Mikko Lindström’s crunch Gibson SG tones that will make you love HIM as much as I do.  “In Venere Veritas” jumps right into the record with a super catchy a Capella line doubled up a million times that HIM has lacked in the past 2 records, “Lets apart together now”.  The catchy 80’s rock style choruses continue through the first single, “Heartkiller” and “In the Arms of Rain”, and then hit again 80’s arena power ballads such as, “Scared to Death”, “Disarm Me [With Your Loneliness]”.

9. Foals “Total Life Forever”

(Sub-Pop Records) May 13, 2010

So I was introduced to this British “Math Rock” band through a good friend of mine back home in Florida a couple of months after this record came out and I really love it in addition to the band’s previous release, “Antidotes” (2008).  After listening to this record I went tried out “Antidotes” and realized that they had slowed down their equation and mastered it, (which most bands tend to do).  There is no doubt that this is the quintessential Sub Pop band as anyone can hear comparisons to Bloc Party, Modest Mouse, and Arcade Fire.  “Blue Blood” starts of the album as if it were the opening credits to an independent film starting off with high octave guitar picking building up into crashing beats.  The second track/first single, “Miami” is a hipster anthem you will probably hear in every Urban Outfitters or watering hole in Echopark, oh and the video is Weightliftingly Trannie-tastic! The cinematography for the video, “Spanish Sahara” combined with this “build-up” song arrangement is just ridiculous and is probably my favorite track.  Immediately following is “This Orient” which was the first song I heard from these guys. It opens with a stereo technique that is very electro church choir-esq and really reminds me of Bloc Party in their peak.

8. Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twitsted Fantasy”

(Roc-A-Fella Records) November 22, 2010

The “Dark Fantasy” begins with a soft again choir singing an over repeated “Can we get Much Higher” chorus (what’s with all the choirs 2010?). The next song is some “Hoopla” politcal voice over from “The rent is too high” guy which is kind of annoying.  “Gorgous” ft. the overated Kid Cudi is again slow and annoying. Your probably thinkink, “Kerry this is favorite albums?” so it finally gets better at the single “Power”, and the song could not have a better title. This is a “going to battle” anthem that we know Yeezy for.  “All of the Lights” ft. Rhianna is your typical saturated Rhianna song but has a cool beat. The first club song, “Monster” brings Jay-z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver in and its pimp.  “Hell of a Life” is my favorite track and starts with a crunchy Black Keys-ish bass riff, and includes a chorus that samples the melody of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” (I hope they got the rights). The rest of the record is ehhh. I haven’t listened to hip-hop in a really long time, so even though this is not the most consistent record on the list, I put it at 8 because it got me somewhat back into hip hop again.

7. Sleigh Bells “Treats”

(Mom and Pop Music) June 1, 2010

(Insert all the 84947859023459023 reviews of this record for this “It Band” of 2010).

Old friend from Soflo music scene: “Have you heard Derek from Poison the Well’s new project?”

Me: “No”

Old friend from Soflo music scene: “You are nuts he his blowing up, go check out Sleigh Bells”

He was right they have played like every indie festival etc. and even made it to ABC news.  They have a very different bad ass sound and Derek hails from my hometown of West Palm Beach, FL.  I remember talking music with him at Parker party drinking 32’s in a paper bag as he was wearing Addidas gym shorts and a Korn t-shirt (sorry meing!) haha. Best song here is “Rill Rill” as I see this song synched up in a slow mo Tarantino scene.

6. Vampire Weekend “Contra”

(XL Recordings) January 11, 2010

Ok yes by now I am kind of bored to death of this record now via all of the Holiday “Holiday” synch that it is getting.  But I did have a lot of fun with this one for a while, and I love the idea of stealing Paul Simon’s “Graceland” getup. It is definatly something different and modern.  Favorite tracks include the whining chorus vocals in “White Sky”, the Gracelandness of “California English” and the Regional Mexican synth trumpets in “Run”. Good job Prep-hipsters of NYC!

5. Against Me! “White Crosses”

(Sire Records) April 20, 2010

“Tat tat tat too tat” amazing opening snare drum kickstarts the title track “White Crosses in which you can’t help to pound along.  Gainesville Florida natives Against Me! modified their sound a bit here with the new Bruce Springsteen punk sound that bands like Gaslight Anthem are also making very popular.  The first single, “Teenage Anarchist” defiantly takes you back to drinking, surfing, skateboarding, and going to punk rock shows (if you did that).  Over all I would call this a great drinking album in the vein of Dropkick Murphys etc.  You must get the Delux version to hear “Bob Dylan dream”, interesting lyrics. Oh and who can beat the awesome “side boob” of the chick on the cover?

4. Jimmy Eat World “Invented”

(Interscope) September 28, 2010 

Arizona’s Jimmy Eat World is back with this amazing record that whopped “Chase This Light’s” ass.  It had me at the opening uptempo clapping and  Mountaineer-ish acoustic strumming guitar in “Heart is Hard to Find”.  “Clairity” has always been one of my favorites of all time, and this one also does the band justice. Other greats include “Evidence”, “Coffee and Cigarettes”, “Littlething”, and “Invented”.

3. LCD Soundsystem “This is Happening”

(Virgin) May 17, 2010

The multi-talented James Murphy from NYC is blowing up everyone’s top 10 list this year with this record.  You have heard me talk about the “build up” in this list. I fucking love the “build up”. It is what I live for in music and that is exactly what the first track, “Dance Yrself Clean” does. And Dance Yrself Clean you will probably do. Either that or it really makes you want to play some 16-bit 80’s video games due to its synth tones.   The first single, “Drunk Girls”. I thought was a bad choice for the first single it was just aight and ehh.  “You Wanted A Hit” is very dreamy and ambient.  “Pow Pow” is probably the best song on the album with a sik 70’s disco porn beat that makes you want to walk into any bar or club and act like you are the absolute shit. My roommate also said in the car last night as this song came on, “This sounds like Talking Heads!” referring to the repeating vocals as in the Head’s hit “Once in a Lifetime” and he was dead on. The video is amazing as well as it features Up In The Air star, Anna Kendrick and director David Ayer made her ridiculously haught. So that helps.

2. Alkaline Trio “This Addiction”

(Heart and Skull/Epitaph) February 19, 2010

So this is one of my favorite bands so I am going to be very bias to this record.  Much like HIM, Alkaline Trio return to their roots all they way back to the 2004’s “From Here to the Infirmary”.  Matt Skibba leads off the record as he usually does with the first single and title track “This Addiction”, which is a drug metaphor for being in love with a chick as indicated by the pill constructed heart on the cover.  This song is so upbeat and catchy yet dark at the same time off the bat that the Ramones and Glen Danzig will be proud for the indirect recognition.  Bassist and dual front man, Dan Andriano uses his Elvis Costello like voice combined with yet another upbeat palm mute to “wuuuu” his lady on “Dine, Dine My Darling”.  “This Addiction’s” content is pretty consistent through out the record bringing elements of ska and synth-pop here and there.  It concludes with Dan’s mental ballad “Fine” where his vocals talents really shine.  Skibba is stereotyped to be the lead or the “John”.  I however am a much bigger Dan or “George” fan if you will.  Either way these guys deliver a punk rock formula that has been working for hundreds of bands for decades now and I can’t wait for the next installment.

1. The Black Keys “Brothers”

(Nonesuch Records) May 18, 2010

Akron Ohio’s Dan Auerback and Patrick Carney deliver a straight up amazing rock record.  That is the bottom line.  “Brothers” is for anyone who likes the sound of a guitar.   Any guitar.   Again you can go read any of the many reviews out there, but honestly just go listen to the damn thing.  It is as simple as the cover.

-Kerry Kendall