When you’ve got Kanye West and Tron blowing up the spot. it’s tough to remember how much good stuff came down the pike this year. Thankfully our esteemed ChinaShop contributors have been making some lists (and checking ‘em twice), and are here to jog your memory. Every weekday from now until the New Year we’ll be turning out our Best Of 2010 accolades, as seen through the hungry eyes and ears of our esteemed legion of contributors. Peruse these lists, take notes, click links, download our MP3s, write us back, tell us we’re completely full of it or applaud us on our sagely advice. Just promise you’ll love us in the morning. So now without further ado, our first Best Of list after the jump.
RICH THOMAS’ 10 FOR 2010
1. Groove Armada – Black Light (Om)
This album is up for a Grammy, and for good reason. It’s the ultimate dance/rock/pop cross-over. Tons of great vocals, but deeply rooted in what Tom ‘n’ Andy do best: luscious house music.
2. Frazey Ford – Obadiah (Nettwerk)
I’m a sucker for good old fashioned American soul, folk and even a bit of country. There isn’t a bad song on this album, and her voice is golden in a sea of soundalikes.
3. Underworld – Barking (Om)
Their best work since Beaucoup Fish. For once, dance music collaborations that make sense. Karl and Rick hooked up with Paul van Dyk, Deep Dish and more for this one.
4. Apparat – DJ Kicks (Studio K7)
Last year Snow Patrol was responsible for my favorite DJ mix of the year. This year it’s Apparat. This mix has everything: tech-house, breaks, ambient, vocals…the whole nine. Layers, baby. Layers!
5. Lou Rhodes - One Good Thing (Motion Audio)
That voice. Unmistakable and luminous. She gets better and better with each album, and with a new Lamb album coming in 2011, the songwriting is gonna be out of control.
6. Kevin Devine – Brother’s Blood (Favorite Gentleman)
Now this is alternative rock I can get down with. Melodic, funny, angry, and lots of guitars. Why do people forget the guitars?
7. Francis and the Lights – It’ll Be Better (Cantora)
If only all R&B were this beautiful, educated and well executed. PS: Francis produced a track on Drake’s album, and opened up for him on his tour. That’s some juice right there.
8. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Def Jam)
If dude keeps making albums like this, it’s gonna be harder and harder to ignore and dislike him. Guest collabs are on point (Bon Iver?!), and “Runaway” is epic, emo and catchy.
9. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – The Social Network OST (Null)
Sorry Daft Punk, you got beat on this one. Trent and Atticus’ version of “In The Hall Of The Mountain King” accompanies the vibe of the movie unlike any other pairing this year.
10. Badly Drawn Boy – It’s What I’m Thinking Pt. 1 – Photographing Snowflakes (The End)
The instrumentation on this record is seriously heady and moody, and Gough drenches his voice in reverb. When he sings, “All that I ask is you treat me like a man,” you realize you’re in for the long haul.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening, Chemical Brothers – Further, Miracle Condition – Miracle Condition, Black Milk – Album Of The Year, Massive Attack – Heligoland, Bonobo – Black Sands, Holy Sons – Survivalist Tales!, J Tillman – Singing Ax, Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns
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