The staff of The Singing Lamb is being so kind as to offer you our insight throughout the last week of 2010 as to what albums, singles, and shows were the best of the year. First off, creator Melody Lau/Lamb shares her top 10 albums. Check it.
10) Janelle Monae — The ArchAndroid
9) Spoon — Transference
8) Hooded Fang — Album
7) The Wilderness of Manitoba — When You Left the Fire
6) Vampire Weekend — Contra
5) Arcade Fire — The Suburbs
If you were oblivious to The Suburbs this year you were probably living under the world’s biggest rock. The only words to describe the year this Montreal collective had this year are triumphant and big. The Suburbs brought back a more-grounded affair, in comparison to the band’s second record Neon Bible, and successfully paired stadium rock hits with the same earnest indie appeal we first saw on Funeral. This band did no wrong this year.
4) Best Coast — Crazy For You
We can sit around and debate the logistics of chillwave but I think we can all agree that California lo-fi rockers Best Coast reigned supreme above all other surf/beach/whatever you want to call it bands this year. Crazy For You was more polished than their previous singles but its lackadaisical ease was the perfect soundtrack this summer.
3) Robyn — Body Talk
Unabashed, empowering and catchy as hell. Robyn is the modern day role model everyone should look up to. “Dancing On My Own” and “Call Your Girlfriend” are some of the year’s best dance songs and Robyn’s ability to narrate one’s heartbreak is spot-on. (Do I know this from personal experience? Maybe.) The beats literally burst out of her chest as she sings “I’m givin’ it my all/ but I’m not the girl you’re takin’ home/I keep dancin’ on my own” and she even tells you not to fuck with her alongside Snoop Dogg. Nuff said.
2) Beach House — Teen Dream
Ambient pop music does many things of the ambient variety – swooning, daydream and sometimes a bit lethargic (in the good sense). But what Teen Dream did upon first listen was knock you over the head. One of the most gorgeous records of the year, Teen Dream weaves song after song of dream-like earworms that will haunt you for days, weeks, and clearly in this case, months. Year-end list aside, this is an album I can listen to for years to come.
1) Owen Pallett — Heartland
Pop perfection from beginning to end, Heartland is Owen Pallett’s best work to date. Pallett doesn’t compromise his musical visions here, enlisting a complete orchestra for the first time and in turn he created a record that’s able to intellectually grab your attention while making you tap your feet. A fine balance between a cerebral masterpiece and a straight-up pop hit, Pallett’s formula is one that very few people can attempt let alone excel at. I’m not shy when it comes to being very proud of the music Toronto produces but this year’s pride and joy all rested on one record. In the span of a year, Heartland has already grown into a classic. (Original review)
