#10: Neon Trees - HabitsIn a year full of strong debuts, Neon Trees is at the top of the pack. A glitzy and glamorous band that looks, and sometimes sounds, like they are straight out of the 80s, Neon Trees strengths are come on catchy hooks and bouncy beats. After opening for 30 Seconds to Mars, Neon Trees went on to headline a small tour of their own (and brought the house down at a show I attended in Birmingham). Watch out for this band, as they are doing all the right things to stay relevant (iTunes sessions, Christmas singles) and should continue into 2011. (Song highlights: Animal, In The Next Room, 1983)
#9: My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous KilljoysMy Chem's long awaited fourth album would have finished a lot higher if not for some misguided tracks (S.C.A.R.E.C.R.O.W.) that interrupted a pretty nice flow. When the band turn it up, they fire on all cylinders and when they slow it down it is hit or miss (I personally am not a fan of Sing). But the high points and the theme of the experience put Danger Days in the Top Ten. (Song Highlights: Na Na Na Na, Bulletproof Heart, Save Yourself I'll Hold Them Back)
#8: Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown
Come Around Sundown is a release that should have gotten more attention. There are great songs contained on this album, it just suffered the fate of not being what people expected. KoL have taken their fans on a ride, releasing gut-wrenching albums before making it big with "Only By The Night" and instead of trying to duplicate that success they channel a sound never heard before from the Followill family. But it's a sound that works. (Song highlights: The End, Back Down South, Mary)
#7: A Day to Remember - What Separates Me From You
Perhaps no band better personifies the old saying of "it isn't broke, don't fix it" than ADTR. Sticking to what they know best (big bass breakdowns, heavy drums and guitar riffs, the perfect combination of hardcore screaming and pop-style singing), What Separates Me From You only serves to strengthen the band's discography. Different albums channel different emotions and if you need to channel the "raise a fist to the sky and stick it to everyone who has done me wrong" then this album is for you. (Song highlights: Sticks and Bricks, All I Want, 2nd Sucks)
#6: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
In today's musical landscape, it's really hard for an album to not live up to the hype. Fortunately, that didn't happen with Mr. West's follow up. I actually don't strongly disagree with certain organizations like Rolling Stone naming it #1, but I feel it had two things against it for that spot. One was there were just simply stronger releases and the other was that he released half his album before it actually came out in stores, which was probably either smart or crazy (similar to how people feel about West himself). No matter how crazy his personal life may get, it's nice to see he can still make a name for himself musically. (Song highlights: Monster, All of the Lights, Blame Game)
#5: Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
Going back to the theme of strong debuts, Two Door Cinema Club came on the scene with "I Can Talk" and silently came out with a strong release. It's really hard to describe the genre, but the simplest way is to refer to them as an indie band with electronic add-ons. The album is a sleeper hit in the fact that you will listen to it and not realize you like it until you go back to listen again and realize you know the words. It will be interesting to see where the band goes from here. (Song highlights: Come Back Home, Something Good Can Work, I Can Talk)
#4: Vampire Weekend - Contra
Coming out in early January, Vampire Weekend held a strong grip on the top spot for the majority of the year (that was till the next three came along). It's a change of pace from their self-titled debut, but it is still their trademark style with fun hooks and catchy beats. Contra sees VW slow it down a little more (and add in a little more auto-tune) but it is still a strong release that shows the band was not a one hit wonder. (Song highlights: Giving Up the Gun, Run, Diplomat's Son)
#3 Bad Books - Bad Books
This is truly a release that came out of nowhere. There were rumors that Andy Hull and the rest of Manchester Orchestra wanted to do something with singer/songwriter Kevin Devine, but the musical landscape wasn't ready for what the merger would produce. Bringing in the best of both worlds (at times gritty rock, at times soothing folk), Bad Books is the kind of album that a listener can just press play and forget about the rest of the world. The only downside to a side project is that it limits the future release of music, which would do the world an injustice if this was the only time we heard from this collective unit. (Song highlights: Baby Shoes, You're A Mirror I Cannot Avoid, Please Move)
#2: Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
There is a reason that this release (though a technicality, since it was released in the UK in 09 but here in the states in February) is on practically everybody's Top Ten lists. It's one of the best albums ever made, not just from this year but in the history of music (I'm looking at you Beethoven). The power of Sigh No More is that it brings in fans of the folk genre that may have never giving it a listen before (guilty). This album is a rarity, in that it captures your attention on first listen and never fully lets you leave as the album stays in your head long after the record stops spinning. (Song highlights: The Cave, I Gave You All, Awake My Soul)
#1: The Black Keys - Brothers
Sometimes an album takes on an attitude of its own and Brothers takes on one where they know are the best without having to tell you that they are. If this release slipped under your radar, you need to check the battery life on your radar. Gritty, dirty blues mixed with down-tempo ballads provide a musical release that can make you jam in your car and contemplate on your couch. Brothers is an album that does what it's supposed to do when a band reaches the point in their career that The Black Keys have. Brothers might be listeners first or second notice of the band and it makes them hungry for more, going back to the early releases. From start to finish, Brothers is pure gold and arguably the best album of the year. (Song highlights: Tighten Up, She's Long Gone, I'm Not The One)
