Songs of the Year 2010: 50-26

Wolf Parade: Oh YES, old things...

No gimmicks, just a run-down of the best 50 songs (including album tracks and singles) of 2010, as chosen by The Popscener...

50. Kelis – Acapella (Flesh Tone, Interscope)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8D9xCBcfzw
49. Pernice Brothers – Fucking and Flowers (Goodbye, Killer, Ashmont Records)
Spotify link
48. Jenny and Johnny – Big Wave (I’m Having Fun Now, Warner Bros)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwtV7L5bxtk
47. Bad Religion – Devil In Stitches (The Dissent Of Man, Epitaph)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_kxQY3Ng8
46. No Age – Glitter (Everything In Between, Sub Pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3_t3q1tjH4
45. Male Bonding – Year's Not Long (Nothing Hurts, Sub Pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeUn11bkuZk
44. Aloe Blacc – I Need the Dollar (Good Things, Stones Throw Records)


43. Eels – Nowadays (End Times, Vagrant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_2E0MF2bY
42. MGMT – It's Working (Congratulations, Columbia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyaDTiXH3R4
41. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Everlyn (Let It Sway, Polyvinyl)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWs4Q2mNBBE
40. Sky Larkin – Tiny Heist (Kaleide, Wichita)
Spotify link
39. High Wire – Hang From The Lights (The Sleep Tape, Grandpa Stan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKJMvcdQmA4
38. Wavves – King of the Beach (King of the Beach, Bella Union)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5biCmyJQtM
37. Hold Steady - Hurricane J (Heaven Is Whenever, Vagrant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG4ABgTuCqA
36. Tokyo Police Club – Favourite Food (Champ, Mom + Pop Music Co.)


35. Gyptian – Hold You (Hold You, VP Records)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKlCEUngHB0
34. Blur – Fool's Day (n/a, Parlophone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8ixnqRyfzU
33. Laura Marling – Made By Maid (I Speak Because I Can, Virgin)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjQN_n3KQ9c
32. Wolf Parade – Oh You, Old Thing (Expo 86, Sub Pop)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV3Zgc_tnJg
31. Drive-By Truckers – Daddy Learned To Fly (The Big To-Do, ATO)
Spotify link
30. Tinie Tempah – Pass Out (Disc-Overy, Parlophone)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzvGKas5RsU 
29. Summer Camp – Round the Moon (Young EP, Moshi Moshi)


28. Young Veins – Take A Vacation (Take A Vacation, One Haven)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM58bE_WPCc
27. Fools Gold – Surprise Hotel (Fool’s Gold, IAMSOUND)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9zFEAda0_g
26. Vampire Weekend – Giving Up The Gun (Contra, XL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bccKotFwzoY

Want it all in one place? Try this handy spotify playlist

Don't forget to check out The Popscener's Albums of the Year 2010

Best Albums of 2009... and more!

The below was originally a feature for subba-cultcha.com but the powers that be have decided to scrap the writers' best ofs this year - presumably because we are all ignorant trend-followers devoid of an independent thought. Regardless, here it is anyway. Enjoy!

Official Secrets Act – Understanding Electricity – One Little Indian
Amongst the saturation of guitar-noise, vocal effects and synth-splurges that characterized 2009, OSA shone like a beacon for what matters most: the songs. This criminally overlooked record melds the Beatles’ White Album with smatterings of XTC rhythm and lyrics recalling Blur’s middle-class dysfunction (personal favourite: “Well Victoria, I have seen the x-rays”). The pop album of the year.

Wild Beasts – Two Dancers – Domino Records
Genuinely enthralling record likely to provoke an immediate sensory response from those who hear it for the first time – if only due to the piercing falsetto vocals and dissonant, ringing guitars. Once ears acclimatize to the din, however, what we are left with is the most well executed attempt at innovation heard this year; a record which marries experimentation with both confidence and memorable songs.  

The Horrors – Primary Colours - XL
Shoegaze has been making a rather conspicuous comeback this year, and much as it might pain some to back these spider-limbed trendsters, credit where credit’s due: this was the best of the lot. Extra points for the single of the year, ‘Sea Within a Sea’, for making 8 minutes breeze by in blissfully eerie fashion.

The Antlers – Hospice – Frenchkiss Records
The heart-wrenching tale of living through a close friend dying of cancer, Hospice gains an extra point for being that most elusive of things: a concept album with a purpose (i.e. not a sprawling, LSD-fuelled examination of ‘space’ or ‘colours’). Musically it cultivated a melting pot of both electronic and electric noise set back in the mix, while vocals dripping with childlike emotion wove simple patterns over the top. A must hear.

The Joy Formidable – A Baboon Called Moaning – Pure Groove
Admittedly only a mini-album, but worthy of mention nonetheless – largely thanks to a perfectly formed sound which welded yet more shoegazey wall-of-noise with a poppier aesthetic. Bonus points for the airily sexy vocals and the (ever receding) tendency for repetition, flattering listeners with the assumption that their attention spans are not so short that they need a new song figure every 15 seconds. Tres bien.


I also had to pick my favourite books/DVDs/Live shows of the year. Here goes...

LIVE – Blur @ Hyde Park – 3 July
Wonderfully triumphant return for the most adaptable (and indeed talented) of the Britpop troupe. Songs which seemed very of-the-time have mostly dated well, the musicianship was sublime and even the weather held up. All well and good, but when there’s 50,000 palpably delighted people aged 15-50 bouncing up and down in unison to ‘Girls and Boys’, frankly nothing else matters anyway.

LIVE – Pixies @ Brixton Academy – 6 October.
Older, balder, fatter, but no less relevant. The Pixies proved they can still produce the goods live with this unique cover to cover performance of their classic record Doolittle (plus attending b-sides). Omitting ‘Where is My Mind’ from the encore will have irked some, but the overwhelming majority were too busy savouring the moment. Joyous.

LIVE – Lemonheads @ Forum, Kentish Town – 19 September
Much-maligned by credible indie types in the 1990s, but this show was living proof that trends are fickle and talent will invariably outlast the contemporary whims. Sure, the songs may be simple as a rule rather than an exception, but add in the magnetic presence of the lumbering Evan Dando – not to mention his superlative vocals – and magic springs forth. Bonus points for the welcome variety afforded by the rapid-fire acoustic interlude.

DVD – Nirvana: Live at Reading – Universal
Spine-tingling vision of the legendary band. From the tongue-in-cheek entrance of Cobain in a wheelchair to the sprawling, feedback tracked instrument smashing finale, Nirvana sparkle. The camera pleasingly divides its time fairly evenly between band members, whilst their visceral, ear-splitting sound is pristinely recreated. Best bit – Cobain: “this is our last show ever...,” Novoselic: “...for today” – surely a worthy insight into the band’s personality dynamic.

BOOK – John Harris – Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll – Sphere Publishing
Former NME editor John Harris proves once again that he is witty, erudite and engaging with this compendium of all things weird and wacky in pop and rock music from the last 50 years. Best bit: collection of the worst lyrics ever and Harris’ response i.e. Travis’ ‘Turn’ referred to as “greeting card-esque wisdom that occasionally suggested work of optimistic eight-year olds”.