Best Albums of 2010: #10-1 (John's Picks)

In the site's more recent, less updated form, we've failed to really cover music the way we have in the past. While that will not be changing for the time being, we still felt compelled to put together some lists to coincide with the end of 2010. Also, just because we haven't been blogging mean we haven't been listening to this year's slate of new releases. On the contrary, writing less about what's new has allowed us to better enjoy it. And now, we'd like to invite you to enjoy our much scaled-down 2010 end-of-year coverage.

John's Top Albums of 2010: #10-1

10. How I Got Over -- The Roots

Top Track: "How I Got Over" (Feat. Dice Raw)

9. Wild Smile -- Suckers

Top Track: "It Gets Your Body Movin'"

8. King Of The Beach -- Wavves

Top Track: "Post Acid"

7. The Suburbs -- Arcade Fire

Top Track: "The Suburbs"

6. Contra -- Vampire Weekend

Top Track: "Cousins"

5. Halcyon Digest -- Deerhunter

Top Track: "Revival"

4. Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty -- Big Boi

Top Track: "Shutterbugg" (Feat. Cutty)

3. High Violet -- The National

Top Track: "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

2. Teen Dream -- Beach House

Top Track: "Zebra"

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy -- Kanye West

Top Track: "Runaway" (Feat. Pusha T)

Weekly Top 10: Winter Songs

Seasons have often been a powerful inspiration for music. From the colorful foliage of autumn, to the carefree pace of summer. In the past, we've highlighted the Top 10 songs that best embodied both the summer and fall. This week, we have decided to bring you our Top 10 songs that embrace the dead cold and sweeping, snow-covered landscapes of winter. So grab a mug of hot cocoa, curl up on the couch with a blanket, and enjoy.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: Los Angeles-Area Artists]

Weekly Top 10: Canadian Bands

Our first Weekly Top 10 of the new year features our favorite selections from our neighbors to the north. We also tried to diversify our selections, so even though the Canadian music scene is known for being a very close-knit, interrelated group, we've attempted to branch out as much as possible. This means that there's only one selection from The Unicorns' and Broken Social Scene's family trees (so don't hate). Check it out below, courtesy of new playlist providers, Playlist.com.

Best of 2009: Most Anticipated Albums of 2010

Once again, another list that's not necessarily the best of 2009, but in this case, we're looking at the most anticipated of 2010's releases. Obviously, none of these are completely guaranteed to come out next year. However, they've been at least hinted at, if not confirmed by the artists or labels, so I'd say that's about as reliable a source as we can get at this point. Enjoy the list below.

10. TBA, Interpol (Early 2010)

9. Congratulations, MGMT (Spring 2010)

8. Transference, Spoon (January 26, 2010)

7. TBA, The Strokes (Late 2010)

6. TBA, Arcade Fire (May 2010)

5. TBA, Bright Eyes (Fall 2010)

4. TBA, OutKast (Late 2010)

3. TBA, The Walkmen (Spring 2010)

2. Contra, Vampire Weekend (January 12, 2010)

1. Thank Me Later, Drake (March 2010)

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best of 2009: Biggest Disappointments]

Most Prolific Artists of the Decade: #1-10

Our latest list-- the Most Prolific Artists of the Decade-- looks to chronicle the most important (for better or for worse) artists of the decade. For one reason or another, be it their positive (or negative) cultural significance, landmark moments for music, staying power or otherwise, these artists mattered a great deal this decade.

In no way is this a list of our favorites of the decade. On the contrary, many of our favorites are not present, while others whom we're actually not fans of, have made the list. So without further ado, check out our the fifth (and final) part of our Most Prolific Artists list below. Next to each artist's name, you'll see a basic numeric list of all primary recordings this decade. For many of these, their impact should probably be self-explanatory. Enjoy, and if you haven't yet read our list of the Best Songs of 2009, or Best Albums of the Decade, read up on those too.

10. T.I. -- 6 LPs (Most recent: 2008's Paper Trail)/2 EPs, P$C -- 1 LP (2005's 25 to Life)

9. Conor Oberst -- 2 LPs (Most recent: 2009's Outer South)/1 EP, Bright Eyes -- 8 LPs (Most recent: 2007's Cassadaga)/4 EPs, Desaparecidos (1 LP/1 EP), Monsters of Folk (1 LP)

8. Arcade Fire -- 2 LPs (Most recent: 2007's Neon Bible)/1 EP

7. Justin Timberlake -- 2 LPs (Most recent: 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds), 'N Sync -- 2 LPs (Most recent: 2001's Celebrity)

6. Jay-Z -- 7 LPs (Most recent: 2009's The Blueprint 3)

5. The White Stripes -- 5 LPs (Most recent: 2007's Icky Thump)/1 EP

4. Lil' Wayne -- 5 LPs (Most recent: 2008's Tha Carter III)/1 EP/10 Mixtapes

3. Animal Collective -- 8 LPs (Most recent: 2009's Merriweather Post Pavillion)/4 EPs

2. Kanye West -- 4 LPs (Most recent: 2008's 808s & Heartbreak)

1. Radiohead -- 4 LPs (Most recent: 2007's In Rainbows)/3 EPs

[Previously on Animal Noises: Most Prolific Artists of the Decade: #11-20]

Best Albums of the Decade: #1-10

Welcome to the final installment of our countdown to the best albums of the decade. There's probably a consensus on the top few, but beyond that, hopefully there's some surprises. As would be expected, a few artists made multiple appearances on the overall list, some maybe shockingly so. Still, these are our picks for the best albums of the decade. Enjoy below-- album streams are courtesy of Lala.com.

10. Censored Colors, Portugal. The Man (2008)

9. Merriweather Post Pavillion, Animal Collective (2009)

8. The Black Album, Jay-Z (2003)

7. The Moon & Antarctica, Modest Mouse (2000)

6. Dog Problems, The Format (2006)

5. Illinois, Sufjan Stevens (2005)

4. Veckatimest, Grizzly Bear (2009)

3. Funeral, Arcade Fire (2004)

2. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Bright Eyes (2005)

1. Kid A, Radiohead (2000)

[Previously on Animal Noises: Best Albums of the Decade: #11-20]

#21-30

#31-40

#41-50

Weekly Top 10: Best Songs Named for Geographic Locations

For this week's list, we decided, for no apparent reason, that it would be fun to pick out songs named for either a city/town, state or country. We tried to avoid the obvious cliche tracks, except one, and unfortunately, two of the songs we originally wanted were not available. So, just so everyone's aware, The Beatles' "Back in the U.S.S.R." and Neutral Milk Hotel's "Holland, 1945" should have been here. Still, I think it's a pretty worthwhile list, as we tried to create variation in locations where possible. Enjoy.

Top 10 Songs Named After Countries/Cities

Video Monday: "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)"

Track: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)

Artist: Arcade Fire

Album: Funeral

Year: 2004

We're starting up a new feature on Animal Noises today, in the hopes that it becomes a weekly segment.  Video Monday will be taken on by both Matt and I on alternating weeks.  If it's deemed successful, perhaps we'll change it to the Track of the Week format, but we'll make that choice when the time comes.  

Leading off the segment this week is Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" off of 2004's Funeral.  As the band's first single, and the first track on the album, it provides an interesting window into the concept of the album and the mindset that spawned it.  The video portrays various nightmarish cartoon dream sequences ending in an untimely, but none-too-graphic, death.  If you're a follower of the band at all, I'm sure you'll appreciate this image of them as a little-known start-up from Canada.  If not, it might take a few views to grasp what's going on.  Still, an interesting video for a great song.  Be sure to check back next Monday as Matt debuts his own video to debut here.