Favorite Records of 2010

With the minutes remaining in 2010 slipping away, it's time that I finally get around to compiling my favorite records of the year. And while it wasn't a great year musically, there were a fair amount of gems released in the last twelve months.

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter's fifth proper album was far and away my favorite. I've listened to it dozens upon dozens of times since its late-September release, and my walnut-sized brain never grows tired of it. In fact, I went so far as to write a short post about the band back in October. Atmospheric, ethereal and nocturnal, Deerhunter bring back some of the great elements of the early 90s "Shoegazer" scene and the legacy of 4AD Records. Which is fitting, seeing that Halcyon Days was released on 4AD. Bradford Cox, Deerhunter's leader, is also a prolific songwriter and is frequently giving away new songs under the Atlas Sound label on his blog.

And the rest...

Beach House - Teen Dream

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night

The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream

Dean & Britta - 13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol's Screen Tests

Drive-By Truckers - The Big To-Do

Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be

Brian Eno - Small Craft on a Milk Sea

Miles Kurosky - The Desert Of Shallow Effects

Phosphorescence - Here's To Taking It Easy

Spoon - Transference

Warpaint - The Fool


Neil Young - Le Noise

Favorite compilation:
Stroke: Songs For Chris Knox

Reissues:

The Charlatans - Some Friendly 20th Anniversary

The Cure - Disintegration + Entreat

Unofficial Reissue:
The Smiths - Unreleased Demos
Best of all, it's available for a free download here.

Favorite 2009 release that I *finally* got around to listening to:

The xx - xx
Until next year, support musicians, buy your music and see your favorite bands live.