Text — The songs that meant the most to me in 2010
2010’s new releases and I really didn’t get on. It all started some promisingly, with the likes of Interpol, the Divine Comedy, and LCD Soundsystem on the horizon. As it turned out, however, almost all of the releases that I was excited about were terrible, with LCD Soundsystem as the only notable counter-example.
Nonetheless, I listened to a whole lot of music in 2010. Here’s the 13 tracks I cared most about, only four of which were released this year. The themes running through are those of home, of determination and of understatement. There’s also a focus on song structure rather than lyrics, and not a lot of straight pop music, which there has been in recent years. Read into that what you will. Anyway, here’s the Spotify playlist, and below the break follows a bit of explanation of each track.
Sambassadeur’s album “European” sits firmly as my favourite of the year with its soaring strings, sophisticated instrumentation and sparkly production. I Can Try is probably my favourite off it, despite the hideous chorus lyric, “the ivory skyline of your smile”. Good thing there’s those beautiful staccato strings to concentrate on instead. See also Albatross, Stranded and Days.
2) The National - Little Faith
I love the National for many reasons. Firstly, they’re an example of a band that’s slowly increasing in popularity with every album they release, which is so rare these days. Secondly, as Andy Malt points out, their songs sound like pressure cookers — as if they’re about to burst, but only just keeping the lid on. Little Faith made the list for the moment around 2m50s when the sky clears and the sun bursts through. See also Anyone’s Ghost, England, and the incredible Bloodbuzz Ohio.
With most of the Swedish pop on this list, I’m actually a big fan of the whole album, but Club 8 are an exception in that I haven’t really loved much more of their work. This song, however, blows me away. Most of its strength is in Karolina Komstedt’s goldilocks vocals — never too weak, never too strong, always just right.
4) Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Grandaddy’s 2001 album Sophtware Slump ranks in my favourites of all time, but the band’s slow decline in popularity afterwards has been tragic to watch. Inevitably they split in 2005, but frontman Jason Lytle has carried on regardless and put out Yours Truly, The Commuter in 2009. It’s as fantastic as any of the Grandaddy albums, happily, and the title track, for me, is the highlight. See also: Ghost of My Old Dog and It’s The Weekend.
I had very very high hopes for LCD’s third album, This Is Happening, after the joy that Sound Of Silver brought me. While it doesn’t quite reach the peaks that Sound of Silver does, This Is Happening turned out to be one of the few high points of the year. It’s an odd album, with loads of 70s influence, but an exceptionally consistent level of quality throughout. I really hope it’s not LCD’s last. See also: Pow Pow, Dance Yrself Clean and the Soulwaxy One Touch.
6) Jens Lekman - Kanske Ar Jag Kar i Dig
Translating to “Maybe I’m In Love With You” in Swedish, Kanske Ar Jag Kar i Dig is the penultimate track on Lekman’s 2007 masterpiece “Night Falls Over Kortedala”. It’s an odd doo-wop ballad, but the strength is really in the second half, from about 2:53 onward, where the horns blare and the beat stutters beautifully. It makes me want to throw my hands into the air, every time, which can get a little embarrassing on the bus. See also: And I Remember Every Kiss, A Postcard to Nina and Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo.
Let’s talk about the Divine Comedy. Since about 1998, the Divine Comedy have been my favourite band. Neil Hannon’s wit, intelligence and ear for both a pop tune and a heartfelt lyric in equal measure combined into something incredible on every album he put together. That’s why I was gutted by 2010’s “Bang Goes The Knighthood”. There’s no easy way to say it — it’s terrible. It sounds like someone writing down on paper what makes a good Divine Comedy album, giving that bit of paper to someone else, and having them make it instead. I’ve lost all trust, and therefore they can’t honestly be my favourite band any more. So who is? Well, the data collected by Last.fm says that I’ve listened to Yo La Tengo significantly more than any other band, and my gut says that they’re a band I can turn to when every other band is pissing me off. Tiny Birds exemplifies their incredible understated nature perfectly. See also: Cherry Chapstick, Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House and Season of the Shark.
8) Acid House Kings - A Long Term Plan
Career progression isn’t the most obvious subject for musicians, despite concerns over the subject playing on the minds of most people at some point in their lives. A Long Term Plan tells the story of an office worker who’s dedicated himself to his job, but falls in love with a business client, contributing to a breakdown. It’s fantastically portrayed, and utterly heartfelt, and it has a great sing-along video. See also: Do What You Wanna Do, Will You Love Me In The Morning? and London School Of Economics.
9) Broken Social Scene - Sentimental X’s
A surprise highlight of the year, Broken Social Scene’s Forgiveness Rock Records is a great collection of songs, but for me it doesn’t get better than this — a masterclass in how to build and come down from a crecendo. I particularly like the wandering bassline, the ringing percussion, and the climax, which must be listened to with eyes firmly shut. See also: Texico Bitches, Meet Me in the Basement and Anthems For A 17-Year-Old Girl.
10) The Sounds - Home Is Where Your Heart Is
I love pop, but as previously mentioned, we haven’t really been very close friends in 2010. This track by the Sounds is a notable exception, but only because of the amount of times I’ve drunkenly walked home far too fast because I’ve been listening to it. For me, it’s a heart-wrenching tale of travel and finding out where it is that you feel at home. It’s also brilliant. If you like it, try No-one Sleeps When I’m Awake, too.
I’ve been aware of Hello Saferide for a while, but mostly just the faintly novelty The Quiz. A few weeks back, I was made aware of this track, which is the polar opposite, and talked directly to something inside me that’s difficult to explain. It’s insecure, it’s sweet, it’s loving, it’s touching. Most of all, the interaction between the vocal melody, the piano and guitar is pretty much perfect. When the strings come in shortly afterwards, and the vocals mention cross-country skiing in the forest, I melt. See also: The Quiz, Anna.
It wasn’t purposeful that my wide distaste of the mainstream in 2010 ended up with me listening widely to Eno’s ambient work, but I suspect that it wasn’t entirely subconcious either. His 1982 album, On Land, is my favourite, with each track conjuring up images of foggy landscapes, barely glimpsed in a dream. It’s more like a painting than a song, which I’m aware was very much Eno’s intent. The best thing about it is that it rewards active listening just as much as it rewards a more passive approach, if you’re working for example. It’s great to write to, too. If you like it, have a listen to Music For Airports or Apollo.
13) Bob Crosby & The Bobcats — Way Back Home
I nearly picked Wichita Lineman as my 13th track, because I loved it in the first half of the year, but I overdid it and it’s started to annoy me in the last few months. Instead, this track from the soundtrack of Fallout 3 will do. It’s adorable.
