Best Songs of 2010 (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 Songs of 2010: #50-1

50. "Crazy for You" -- Best Coast

49. "I Want to Be Well" -- Sufjan Stevens

48. "Giving Up the Gun" -- Vampire Weekend

47. "XXXO" -- M.I.A.

46. "Excuses" -- The Morning Benders

45. "Norway" -- Beach House

44. "World Sick" -- Broken Social Scene

43. "While We're Young" -- Department of Eagles

42. "Bermuda" -- Kisses

41. "Simple Graces" -- Delorean

40. "USA Boys" -- HEALTH

39. "Round and Round" -- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

38. "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" -- Arcade Fire

37. "Floating Vibes" -- Surfer Blood

36. "Doe Deer" -- Crystal Castles

35. "Daisy" -- Fang Island

34. "The Day" (Feat. Mos Def & Jay Electronica) -- Curren$y

33. "Fever Dreaming" -- No Age

32. "Conversation 16" -- The National

31. "Over" -- Drake

30. "All Summer" -- Kid Cudi, Best Coast, Rostam Batmanglij

29. "Someday Soon" -- Harlem

28. "Nothin' On You" -- B.O.B.

27. "Eat You Alive" -- Donnis

26. "Superfast Jellyfish" -- Gorillaz

25. "Not In Love" (Feat. Robert Smith) -- Crystal Castles

24. "Rill Rill" -- Sleigh Bells

23. "See Me Now" (Feat. Beyonce & Charlie Wilson) -- Kanye West

22. "Heartbreaker" -- Girls

21. "Heaven's On Fire" -- The Radio Dept.

20. "hahahahaha jk?" -- Das Racist

19. "Crushin' Feelins" -- Freddie Gibbs

18. "Revival" -- Deerhunter

17. "Only Girl (in the World)" -- Rihanna

16. "Post Acid" -- Wavves

15. "Yamaha" -- The-Dream

14. "O.N.E." -- Yeasayer

13. "The Suburbs" -- Arcade Fire

12. "Angela Surf City" -- The Walkmen

11. "Cousins" -- Vampire Weekend

10. "Swim" -- Surfer Blood

9. "Collector" -- Here We Go Magic

8. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" -- The National

7. "I'm Back" -- T.I.

6. "Zebra" -- Beach House

5. "Power" -- Kanye West

4. "Exhibit C" -- Jay Electronica

3. "Fuck You" -- Cee-Lo

2. "Shutterbugg" (Feat. Cutty) -- Big Boi

1. "Runaway" (Feat. Pusha T) -- Kanye West

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)

Best Albums of 2010: #20-11 (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: #20-11

20. Transference -- Spoon

Top Track: "Written In Reverse"

19. Down There -- Avey Tare

Top Track: "Lucky 1"

18. Fang Island -- Fang Island

Top Track: "Daisy"

17. Thank Me Later -- Drake

Top Track: "Over"

16. Everything In Between -- No Age

Top Track: "Fever Dreaming"

15. Lisbon -- The Walkmen

Top Track: "Angela Surf City"

14. Pilot Talk -- Curren$y

Top Track: "The Day" (Feat. Mos Def & Jay Electronica)

13. Astro Coast -- Surfer Blood

Top Track: "Swim"

12. Love King -- The-Dream

Top Track: "Yamaha"

11. The Age of Adz -- Sufjan Stevens

Top Track: "I Want to Be Well"

Best Albums of 2010: #30-21 (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: #30-21

30. Gorilla Manor -- Local Natives

Top Track: "Airplanes"

29. Majesty Shredding -- Superchunk

Top Track: "My Gap Feels Weird"

28. Odd Blood -- Yeasayer

Top Track: "O.N.E."

27. Play It Strange -- The Fresh & Onlys

Top Track: "Waterfall"

26. The Archandroid -- Janelle Monae

Top Track: "Tightrope" (Feat. Big Boi)

25. I Learned the Hard Way -- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Top Track: "I Learned the Hard Way"

24. Cosmogramma -- Flying Lotus

Top Track: "... And the World Laughs With You" (Feat. Thom Yorke)

23. Album of the Year -- Black Milk

Top Track: "Welcome (Gotta Go)"

22. Before Today -- Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Top Track: "Round and Round"

21. Treats -- Sleigh Bells

Top Track: "Rill Rill"

Best Albums of 2010 (Matt'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.

Matt's Top 10 Albums of 2010

10. Wild Smile -- Suckers

9. Thank Me Later -- Drake

8. The Suburbs -- Arcade Fire

7. Expo '86 -- Wolf Parade

6. Lisbon -- The Walkmen

5. Contra -- Vampire Weekend

4. Heart of the Nightlife -- Kisses

3. Astro Coast -- Surfer Blood

2. High Violet -- The National

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy -- Kanye West

Best Albums of 2010 (So Far)

If it feels like Animal Noises has been gone for awhile, it's because it's true. There are various reasons for this-- a disenchantment with reviewing music, a floundering music scene and a dearth of good music are a few. What encourages this post however also has meaning behind it. This past week was our second birthday as a blog; an eternity on the internet, really. Our first post was a list just like this one, albeit more crudely and haphazardly constructed. Matt wrote about album art, I wrote hack reviews (some might say I still do), and the site was not yet molded into its 2009 form. Almost 700 posts (mostly in 2009), a senior editorship at 20 Watts and (at one time) a surprising surge in notability later, this probably isn't what most (myself included) envisioned for the blog at this point. But such is life.

I won't make any promises as to what our format will be going forward. I honestly don't know. Nonetheless though, here are our (mostly my) picks for the top 15 studio albums of 2010 thus far (through June 30).

15. Avi Buffalo, Avi Buffalo
For a band made mostly of under 20-somethings, Avi Buffalo delivers a surprisingly expansive album experience on their first go-around. Of course, there are moments where they can, and do act their age, but for the most part, it's a real show of emotions, without being too sappy or immature.

14. Transference, Spoon
By my account, Spoon's most experimental effort to date, Transference seems to forgo the radio-friendly, locked-in nature of 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga for a rougher, gruffer exterior. The results are a surprising change of pace that deliver few singles, but a very complete and complimentary collection of songs.

13. Treats, Sleigh Bells
Sleigh Bells were discovered by M.I.A., something that shouldn't surprise you at any point during Treats. Their brash electronic pop is a burst of raw energy, electrifying and different with an air of youth typified by the cheerleader themed album cover.

12. Before Today, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Before Today may be the only appropriate title for Ariel Pink's latest effort, with a sound that grabs at 70s and 80s pop conventions as if they were gold. Though it may be more polished than his previous work, it also manages to display more outward emotion as well-- the biggest draw on an album full of them.

11. Swim, Caribou
Harsh, melancholy and removed all at once, Caribou's Daniel Snaith seems to outdo himself on Swim. More worked-over than what we've heard from him to this point, its seamless juxtaposition of various textures and elements keep it engaging and interesting throughout.

10. Thank Me Later, Drake
Drake's highly-anticipated debut ends up here mostly on the strength of production value and a bevy of memorable radio singles. In spite of all his detractors and critics, the entertainer has still accomplished quite a bit in a very short time, and this album seems to be just the first in a string of solid outputs we'll see from him in the years to come.

9. Cosmogramma, Flying Lotus
A cacophony of sound, Cosmogramma may be the most difficult record on this list to wrap your head around. That said, the stunning collection of hip-hop, jazz and electronic experimentation will reward any and all listeners willing to put the time in.

8. How I Got Over, The Roots
It would seem counter intuitive that The Roots would deliver one of their better albums at this point in their career. Then again, maybe mainstream exposure doesn't have to ruin every artist. The hip-hop veterans couple with various out-of-genre collaborators here to put together a highly optimistic, and internalized collection of songs.

7. Innerspeaker, Tame Impala
In spite of their early psychedelic influences (which ring very apparent), Tame Impala manage to make Innerspeaker an energetic, modern tour de force. With nary a lull in sight, the band grabs your attention from the start, and holds on throughout, as only an expertly engineered album can.

6. Fang Island, Fang Island
Fang Island's self-titled debut is decidedly jovial, and almost childish-- a trait that actually sounds better in practice than it does in print. Still, the endless enthusiasm they provide is something of an anomaly in today's scene, so infectious that you have no choice but to join them in exuberance.

5. Astro Coast, Surfer Blood
Astro Coast is a technical gem, with a level of guitar work far surpassing anything a debut album should be capable of. And yet, you are helpless to believe it from the record's opening notes all the way to the end. Thrashing wildly amidst a summer vibe, it's a storm worth sitting through.

4. LP4, Ratatat
Devoid of many of the club bangers that have made them famous, Ratatat's LP4 still manages to excite the senses with a much more closed-in approach. Even within the contained sound though, you are consumed by its textures, which harp far more on composition with (from my vantage point) a decidedly Latin flavor.

3. Contra, Vampire Weekend
I deserve criticism for my initial evaluation of Contra, which was less than favorable. That being said, it's a record that thoroughly grows on you, as each listen uncovers a new intricacy and songs gain new meanings. Rife with experimentation and intrigue, Contra never ceases to add a new dimension to your experience with it.

2. High Violet, The National
Abandoning a sound that can best be described by me as "cozy," The National go for a darker transition on High Violet, and pass with flying colors. Textured, brooding and thoughtful, the moody collection of songs is a saga-of-sorts, with a damaged and flawed cast of characters you are unlikely to tear yourself away from.

1. Teen Dream, Beach House
A floating, sensational commentary on young love, Teen Dream is airy and downright gorgeous. Each note sparkles and shines, whether happy or sad, dragging you closer and closer into the feelings that created it. When the final notes of closer "Take Care" fade away, you have only once choice but to hit play once again.

Matt's Track of the Week: Twins' "Drive By Digital Ghost"

Song: Drive By Digital Ghost

Artist: Twins

Album: The Other Side Of

Rating: 7.0

Although he's been getting a little buzz here and there, Twins (Matt Weiner of Brooklyn) seems like a remarkably small and relatively unknown artist. His Myspace has 2,520 hits at press time, the most listened to track on his page has 307 plays, and his last comment was on January 5th, wishing him a happy new year. So why exactly is a new Twins song something that should even be on the radar of this blog and similar publications? I couldn't tell you. But after listening to it, you'll probably be glad that someone out there is on top of their new artist news.

"Drive By Digital Ghost" is an eerie throwback to the analog 80s. Mixed between intermittent guitar strokes, whining synths and distorted create a chilling atmosphere that sounds like being trapped inside the darkest, most warped corners of your imagination. His distinctive sound here is both unique and familiar, but at all times estranged and lonely, painting a spacious, hopeless portrait of a doomed endeavor. A sonic landscape this expressive is something you don't here all too often. You can listen to and download this track (via Pitchfork). Check it out below.

Twins, "Drive By Digital Ghost" (via Pitchfork)

Weekly Top 10: Songs for Spring

Though spring has actually been upon us for the past week and a half, the 70-degree temperatures currently in my locale have finally made it official. Below you'll find tracks both about spring and evocative of spring as well. Some may be more obvious (The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun"), while others may not jump out right away (Wilco's "Hummingbird"). Still, an enjoyable, seasonal collection. Check it out.

[Previously on Animal Noises: Weekly Top 10: SXSW Acts (Part 2)]

John's Track of the Week: Meth, Ghost & Rae's "Our Dreams"

Song: Our Dreams

Artist: Meth, Ghost & Rae

Album: Wu-Massacre

Rating: 7.0

Creating an album for the fans isn't exactly a novel concept of late. Lil' Wayne would claim every mixtape to be such a gift, and let's face it, he's made quite a few of those. Yet, for artists like Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, not only is it abnormal, but nearly unheard of to leave the confines of their normally sprawling collections of gangsta hip-hop. So when the three artists announced they'd be releasing fan album Wu-Massacre under the Meth, Ghost & Rae monicker, one wouldn't be blamed for being somewhat surprised, and at least mildly excited.

For what Wu-Massacre lacks in production value (the group has said it was recorded on virtually no budget), it excels in how comfortably the three rappers gel together. Over two years removed from Wu-Tang's last effort (2007's 8 Diagrams), it's as if they never left the studio, with their rhymes as crisp and locked-in as ever, and each artist naturally conceding to the next whenever necessary. Though exemplified on many tracks, one of the most interesting representations is on "Our Dreams," which features Inspectah Deck and Sun God, as well as a looping sample from Michael Jackson's "We're Almost There." Playing off the psychedelic vibe and MJ's vocals, the rappers mingle flawlessly within its confines to create a smooth, cool hit. Check it out below.

Music Video Monday: Devendra Banhart's "Baby"

Track: Baby

Artist: Devendra Banhart

Album: What Will We Be

Year: 2010

The premise of Devendra Banhart's "Baby" video isn't exactly forthright, but we'll give it a whirl anyway. Basically, Banhart and his hipster pals (which include The Strokes' Fabrizio Moretti and MGMT's Andrew VanWyngarden, among others) are just walking down the street when they're suddenly abducted by some sort of large cylinder. The cylinder then blasts off into space, where they arrive inside some odd pink planet of-sorts. Once there, they are surrounded by H.R. Puffinstuff-type cartoon characters, whom they interact with here and there. To top it all off, GZA is the king of this whole realm (totally makes sense), which he rules from his iPhone.

And that's the long and short of it. We never get an explanation for any of these actions-- especially GZA's appearance, which may only be because he's a Banhart fan. Yet, in a way, you don't really question the whole ridiculous affair. I, for one, stopped being surprised when the cartoons showed up, but maybe others felt differently. Either way, it's worth a look below.