The order I'm posting them in, is not, not, my order. But when I have finished the list, I'll probably number them alongside the record's name. Some of the records that you love will probably be missing and this is only my opinion, so I'm not charting divine provenance as I post this entry.
...or maybe I am.
1. Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise
There was only going to be one winner of this list for me. Circa Survive's Blue Sky Noise is immaculate, and I'd go as far as to say it is a perfect record. 'Juturna' and 'On Letting Go' have endless plays on my iPod, but since April of this year, only one record has wrestled to stay in the forefront of my mind. From the opener 'Strange Terrain' to bonus track finisher 'Every Way (acoustic)' Anthony Green (vocals), Brendan Ekstrom (drums), Colin Frangicetto (guitar), Nick Beard (bass) and Steve Clifford (guitar) produce a record of countless beautiful and soaring moments that capture why people make music and why people listen and love music.
Standout tracks: The whole freaking album!!
7. Emarosa - Emarosa
Despite 'This Is Your Way Out' being one of my favorite EPs/CDs and the dissolution of that sound with Jonny Craig's arrival into the band, 'Emarosa' has slow burned to become one of my standout records of 2010. 'Relativity' often felt like one long song but this release has helped to fit the pieces into the Jonny Craig in Emarosa puzzle for me. As I grew to love his solo record from the year before, I began to see how he was influencing Emarosa's songwriting. He ties the subtle keys, the intricate guitars, the thumping drums and the understated bass all together with his angelic voice that seems to do everything you want it to and more. Seeing this performed live in early December cemented its place in my top 10.
Standout tracks: A Toast To The Future Kids!, The Weight Of Love Blinds Eyes, Broken Vs The Way We Were Born
3. Envy On The Coast - Lowcountry
'Lowcountry' wins the unofficial underappreciated record of the year for me. Envy On The Coast embrace a mature Southern rock sound that distances them from the rest of the genre that their first release 'Lucy Gray' had. Don't get me wrong, 'Lucy Gray' is a clever record with some stellar musicianship, but 'Lowcountry' is stripped down, 'Lowcountry' is clever without overtly trying to be. Despite the difficulty of losing band members during the recording process, most noticeably their virtuoso drummer Dan, Ryan Hunter (vocals) took up the sticks to ensure 'Lowcountry' hit the shelves. I thank God for that decision. Unfortunately, EOTC disbanded in July this year, which is such a shame as this direction was the way forward.
Standout tracks: Like I Do, Death March On Two, Ready?, Numb
10. Pierce The Veil - Selfish Machines
Pierce The Veil made their arrival into my life supporting The Blackout in 2007 or so. What struck me was the soaring chipmunk vocals of Vic Fuentes and how amazingly their material translates into a live show. 'Selfish Machines' is PTV's second record that blows their first CD out of the water, and I didn't think that was even possible. Opener 'Besitos' is hands down, one of the best opening tracks ever made and the band as musicians serve up 40 plus minutes of mature post hardcore that leave a blazing trail of satisfaction and the 'play me again, play me again, play me again' feeling when closing track 'She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty' featuring a soulful performance from Jonny Craig plays out. Speaking of high profile collaborations, Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember screams his way onto 'Caraphernelia' with serious aplomb.
Standout tracks: She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty, Besitos, Stay Away From My Friends
8. The Xcerts - Scatterbrain
I write this half of the post to the tunes of 'Scatterbrain'. I discovered The Xcerts through the event of dead batteries in my Sky remote when 'Nightschool' from 'In The Cold Wind We Smile' played on Scuzz. I was hooked as the Chinese lanterns disappeared in the fadeout when the video ended and I downloaded the record post-haste. 2010 brought 'Scatterbrain' a suitable release following the emotionally tinged alt-rock of the prior release. The band are surer of themselves as the record pushes more boundaries and reaches further into the listener to pay close attention to everything that's going on sonically. I yearn to see them live, to complete the love affair of what I hear on CD.
Standout tracks: Scatterbrain, Lament, Slackerpop
No comments:
Post a Comment