2010: The Year In Music

2010 – Earthquakes devastate both Chile and Haiti. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill damages the ocean in irreparable ways. Instagram launches. Antimatter is successfully trapped for the first time. The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupts. I never want to type that word again … so let’s hope the music makes me want to listen to it over and over!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Break Your Heart (Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris)

We’re in the era of music where I, the author of this blog, was growing up and listening to every Pop song as they first came on radios. Which makes it even more embarrassing for Cruz and Ludacris that I didn’t remember “Break Your Heart” until hearing it now.

The chorus vaguely rings a bell, but it’s hardly the most memorable song of the year.

9 – Dynamite (Taio Cruz)

The other Taio Cruz song of 2010 – “Dynamite” – is much catchier and more memorable.

The Minecraft meme songs have ruined it for me, though.

8 – Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)

Lady Gaga is still going strong in 2010.

“Bad Romance” is yet another big hit. In some ways it’s better than “Poker Face” … but the two are quite similar.

7 – Love the Way You Lie (Eminem feat. Rihanna)

One of the more commercial Eminem songs.

Rihanna’s chorus is quite catchy, too. Safe but a success.

6 – Airplanes (B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams)

I have a feeling it’ll be quite hard from now to separate my “least favourite” from the pack, as I can remember all of these songs from my childhood (with varying degrees of fondness).

If I’m being objective, “Airplanes” is quite one-dimensional.

5 – OMG (Usher feat. will.i.am)

Not as catchy as other Usher songs, but I still don’t mind it.

4 – California Gurls (Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg)

Over time I’ve grown to hate “California Gurls”. Objectively speaking, though, it’s one of Katy Perry’s best.

It certainly does its job as an earworm.

3 – Hey, Soul Sister (Train)

A bit too soppy for my tastes, but “Hey, Soul Sister” is a classic for a reason – it’s endearing and gets stuck in your head all day.

2 – Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)

In an age of soppy and predictable Pop songs, it’s weird to have a genuine track like “Need You Now” in the mix.

It has the most heart and depth of any of these songs.

1 – Tik Tok (Kesha)

Oh. Oh god. I completely forgot “Tik Tok” existed. So many terrible memories are flooding back to me.

It’s one of the most annoying songs of all time. There’s a certain genre of trashy white girl who likes this, but it’s really not for me.

FAVOURITE – “Need You Now” (Lady Antebellum)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Tik Tok” (Kesha)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Zebra (Beach House)

“Zebra” is the opener to Beach House’s “Teen Dream”, and it’s a very lush way to start the album.

The drums come in and make the whole thing feel complete.

9 – Bloodbuzz Ohio (The National)

Great drums to begin with, and “Bloodbuzz Ohio” never lets up.

It’s quite uplifting despite the fact the lyrics are weird. I’m not even going to pretend I know what “I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees” means.

8 – Dark Fantasy (Kanye West)

This will be an embarrassing admission, but I only knew the “Can we get much higher” refrain from memes. It’s nice to finally find the song it stemmed from!

“Dark Fantasy” is a solid opener to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”. It’s not the best of Kanye but it’s a sign of what’s to come.

7 – Impossible Soul (Sufjan Stevens)

Sufjan’s “Age of Adz” didn’t make the top five albums, which is surprising. What’s even stranger is that “Impossible Soul”, a 25-minute song, made this list ahead of tracks like “Futile Devices”.

It’s a gorgeous song with many distinct passages. The problem with a 25-minute song, however, is that not all of it is going to appeal.

6 – The Suburbs (Arcade Fire)

The title track and opener to a great Arcade Fire album.

“The Suburbs” has a nice swing and thought-provoking lyrics.

5 – On Melancholy Hill (Gorillaz)

Hot take time – “On Melancholy Hill” is nowhere near my favourite song from “Plastic Beach”. I prefer songs like “Stylo” and “Empire Ants” far more.

On the topic of this song, however, there’s no denying the nostalgic appeal. It’s simple, but it’s like sharing a summer evening with your best friends.

4 – POWER (Kanye West)

“POWER” has been in my gym playlist ever since I first heard it – it’s the ultimate hype song.

It has a great sample of “21st Century Schizoid Man” too, and the bridge / outro is gorgeous. What’s not to love?

3 – Sprawl II [Mountains Beyond Mountains] (Arcade Fire)

It baffles me why Arcade Fire put the catchiest, best song on the album right near the end. Prop it up near the start where it belongs!

“Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” has always been a favourite of theirs. The vocals are so catchy, and those synths sound fantastic.

2 – Dance Yrself Clean (LCD Soundsystem)

The opening song on “This Is Happening” is an absolute banger.

It starts quiet, explodes, and then dazzles you for the full nine minute runtime. “Dance Yrself Clean” might be my favourite LCD Soundsystem song – which is saying something.

1 – Runaway (Kanye West feat. Pusha T)

I didn’t get “Runaway” when I first heard it. It seemed pretentious and too long, and it was unlike any other Kanye song.

But on second listen onwards, I fell in love with the introspective lyrics and the slow, methodical songwriting. This is Kanye at his most vulnerable.

BEST SONG OF 2010 – “Dance Yrself Clean” (LCD Soundsystem)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – This Is Happening (LCD Soundsystem)

I’m surprised “This Is Happening” only made number five on this ranking – it’s definitely in my personal top two for the year.

It’s another slam-dunk by James Murphey and company. “Dance Yrself Clean”, “Drunk Girls”, “I Can Change”, “One Touch”, “You Wanted a Hit” and “Home” are mainstays in my playlist.

4 – Teen Dream (Beach House)

The whole of “Teen Dream” is very pleasant, but it’s the kind of introspective, slow, melancholic Rock that I find gets a little too sorrowful to be enjoyed fully.

3 – High Violet (The National)

“High Violet” is a more complete album than any I’ve heard recently – every song has its place, and it’s hard to pick favourites.

I liked “Another’s Ghost” and “Bloodbuzz Ohio” the most, I think.

2 – The Suburbs (Arcade Fire)

Arcade Fire hasn’t missed so far – “The Suburbs” is almost the length of a double album but I was still engaged throughout.

The album starts strong with “The Suburbs” and “Ready to Start” and ends well with “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”. The middle loses me a bit but I can see the vision.

1 – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Kanye West)

For as controversial as the guy is, Kanye West can make some damn good music when he puts his mind to it.

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” is filled to the brim with bangers. “POWER”, “Runaway”, “All of the Lights” and “Devil In A New Dress” are some of Kanye’s best work.

BEST ALBUM OF 2010 – “This Is Happening” (LCD Soundsystem)

It was a close race that almost went to Kanye, but in the end I can’t help but love the journey that “This Is Happening” takes the listener on. For a time it was considered LCD Soundsystem’s last album – and what a victory lap it would’ve been.

Final Thoughts

For the first time in a while, I was impressed with all of 2010’s offerings. The hits were cheesy but catchy, and the critically acclaimed songs and albums were fully worthy of the praise.

Overall Grade: B+

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: