Poniedziałek 20 Gru 2010, 13:06

Here is a list of my personal favorite albums of 2010. It's 15 Because 10 wouldn't be enough….ha!

15. She & Him - Volume Two
I love Zooey D. She isn't the best singer and She & Him isn't the best band, but I love how they go into the studio and create music from what they feel. Thats what art is! Volume Two is a spunky collection of songs to make you feel good, make you feel sad and everything in between. (HIGHLIGHTS: In The Sun, Me and You, Thieves, Home, If You Can't Sleep)

14. Sade - Soldier of Love

Sade has still got it. The English band definitely put out a great cd this year, their first in 10 years. Full of mid-tempo & slow jazz/R&B/soul jams. (HIGHLIGHTS: The Moon and The Sky, Babyfather, Be That Easy, In Another Time, Soldier Of Love)

13. Vampire Weekend - Contra
Contra is my first introduction to the indie pop sensation that is VW, and must I say, what an intro it is. Quirky, full of catchy innuendos, slightly conscious while still being fun. Sounds like the perfect combo. (HIGHLIGHTS: I Think UR A Contra, Horchata, Giving Up The Gun, Cousins, Taxi Cab)

12. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
Lady A, gave us a simple, country pop album full of emotion, heartbreak, love and fun. The trio sounded great on their second album, I love their harmonies and straightforward lyrics. (HIGHLIGHTS: American Honey, Our Kind Of Love, If I Knew Then, Love This Pain, Hello World)

11. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West is a genius. He gave us the best hip hop album of the year! (HIGHLIGHTS: Blame Game, All Of The Lights, Monster, Who Will Survive In America)

10. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
Badu took us on trip through her mind, teaching us lessons about love, love lost, finding ourselves and finding our freedom. (HIGHLIGHTS: 20 Feet Tall, Out My Mind Just In Time, Love, Fall In Love (Your Funeral), Window Seat )

9. Corinne Bailey Rae - The Sea
While her first LP was lighter in tone and equipped with more hope in love, Bailey Rae returns with her sophomore album more mature in tone, heart and sound. On The Sea you see Rae in rawer form, more heartbroken and most of all more honest. She pushed the envelope in all areas and delivered big time with this record.(HIGHLIGHTS: The Sea, Paris Nights/NY Mornings, I'd Do It All Again, Closer, The Blackest Lillyf)

8. Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life
MCS, by far my favorite punk rock band of all time, delivered a perfect album this year. My Dino Life is for all the underdogs and thats why it rocked my 2010! (HIGHLIGHTS: Her Words Destroyed My Planet, Disappear, Pulp Fiction, Stand Too Close)

7. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Not many artists can deliver a 2nd album that compares to their debut, but Katy sure delivered with TD. Katy brings us dance, pop and a little rock edge this time around and she sounds amazing doing it. (HIGHLIGHTS: Circle The Drain, Not Like The Movies, Firework, Pearl, Who Am I Living For?)

6. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
Heart pumping, futuristic, galaxy jumping, moon gliding trip-hop. Mr FlyLo himself tokes us on a journey with Cosmogramma. Sit back, relax, listen and enjoy the spaceship. (HIGHLIGHTS: Galaxy in Janaki, Zodiac Shit, Do The Astral Plane, Dance of the Psuedo Nymph, Auntie's Harp)

5. Katie Melua - The House
Katie gave us a haunting collection of songs. She intertwined jazz, pop and acoustic genres throughout this album, while highlighting her quirky voice. (HIGHLIGHTS: The Flood, The House, No Fear of Heights, Red Balloons, Tiny Alien)

4. Kelis - FleshTone
The only artist to successfully crossover into the electro/euro/dance/pop genre. Kelis released a flawless record fusing heartfelt lyrics about love, strength and her son and catchy electro beats. (HIGHLIGHTS: 22nd Century, 4th Of July, Brave, Song For The Baby, Home)

3. The Foreign Exchange - Authenticity
Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Electro and Jazz all fused together and you'll get Authenticity. TFE delivers one of the year's smoothest albums. (HIGHLIGHTS: The Last Fall, Eyes To The Sky, All Roads, Everything Must Go, The City Ain't The Same…)

2. Justin Nozuka - You I Wind Land And Sea

Justin is amazing! He has one of the most soulful spirits EVER! This is Justin's 2nd effort bringing us guitar & B and it's perfection. You couldn't fake the emotion, heart, love, and tears Justin put into this album. (HIGHLIGHTS: Carried You, Love, Swan In The Water, Hollow Men, Soulless Man)

1. Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid (Suites II & III)
By far the best album of 2010. It shouldn't even be called an album, it's an emotion picture. Janelle Monáe takes us and throws us into the world of Cindi Mayweather and Anthony Greendown and uses music to tell their story. Jazz, funk, pop, dance, rock and R&B all show up on the ArchAndroid and Janelle magically mixes and flows all these genres together to make a collective sound. (HIGHLIGHTS: Dance or Die, Suite III Overture, Sir Greendown, Cold War, Neon Valley Street, BaBopByeYa)

Honorable Mentions: Another Round / The Adventures Of Bobby Ray / Beautiful / We Are Born / Ben L'oncle Soul / Colorblind / Bags & Suitcases / Pulse / Blackmagic