Sound Verite's Favorite Albums : 2010
1. Kanye West -My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Opening with the RZA produced “Dark Fantasy”, he explains that “the plan was to drink until the pain’s over” then asking “but what’s worst, the pain or the hangover?. The sinister “Gorgeous” with Kid Cudi & Raekwon is a fiery street anthem. West goes in for the gold, and is coming for whoever has it: “I treat the cash the way the government treats AIDS, I ain’t gonna be satisfied ’til all my niggers get it, get it?”. Surveying the landscape West theorizes “Is hip-hop just a euphemism for a new religion, the soul music of the slaves that the youth are missing, but this is more than just my road to redemption”. The thunderous “Power”, with sample of King Crimson prog-rock classic “21st Century Schizoid Man” included works incredibly wells as he puts haters on notice “ I guess every Super hero needs his own theme music”. He see’s a community wrapped in bleakness “the system broken, the schools closed & prisons open, we ain’t got thing to lose motherfucker we rolling” and celebrates. For all of you who doubted him “You short-minded niggas’ thoughts is Napoleon, my ice done brought the goalies in, now I embody every characteristic of the egotistic, he know, he so fuckin’ gifted.” Sound Verite review at Reviler
2. Arcade Fire -The Suburbs
3. Broken Social Scene -Forgiveness Rock Record
The soaring opening track “World Sick” with its cascading guitars is the sort of post-rock pop that we expect as Drew’s frustration with the status-quo is expressed with the lyric “I get world-sick every time I take a stand” before climaxing with a blissful orchestrated symphony of guitars. The shambling “Texico Bitches” features Pavement’s Spiral Stairs. Standout “Forced To Love” captures the essence of the band as Drew says “If I think about it, am I cool yeah”. “All to All” is an ambient, trance like bit of electronica that hints more at a Metric b-side than BSS. Guitarist Whitman takes the lead on horn-filled, spirited romp of “Art House Director”. “Highway Slipper Jam” finds drummer Peroff taking over the lead vocal, draped in whistles, slide guitars, and synthesized drums. “Sentimental X’s” gets an assist from BSS all-star female team Feist, Milan and Haines. The same trio is also on electro run through “Chase Scene” where Drew does a great Andy Gibb. There’s the elegant “Sweetest Kill” and the quiet strummer “Romance to the Grave”. Bassist Canning aces the lead vocal on the Pavement inspired slacker hit “Water in Hell” with backing vocal from Grainger (ex-Death From Above 1979). Canning states “the shuck and jive, the shuck and jive is over”. He could very well be talking about hustle of the music game/politics, relationships within the band or both. Sound Verite review at Reviler.
4. Jonsi -Go
5. Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma
6. Nas/ Damien Marley - Distant Relatives
7. Beach House -Teen Dream
8. Guilty Simpson – OJ Simpson
9. MGMT -Congradulations
10. Fela Kuti -Expensive Shit / Koola Lobitos / The '69 L.A. Sessions/
10. Blonde Redhead – Penny Sparkle
10. Willliam Parker's Organ Quartet – Uncle Joe's Spirit House
10. Erkyah Badu -New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
10. Deerhunter -Halcyon Digest
Sound Verite Top Ten picks are the same for Village Voice's PazznJop with a few extras and over at Reviler with a slight left turn.
