#10
Boston SpaceshipsOur Cubehouse Still Rocks
Guided By Voices, Inc. [2010]
I know that both fans and critics can sometimes get lost in the sea of releases that Robert Pollard launches at us in just one year but if you were to only check out one - Boston Spaceships fourth studio full length Our Cubehouse Still Rocks should be it. The record had classic GBV type guitar intros, driving riffs and pounding drums that instantly grabbed your attention, while the familiar lyrical wordplay and soaring choruses sealed the deal. Rocker "Come On Baby Grace", is easily one of the best Boston Spaceships tracks to date and Our Cubehouse Still Rocks possessed a confidence which poured out around every melody, every chord and featured a power in Pollard's voice like he was 36 again. Now that the GBV reunion tour is winding down, Our Cubehouse Still Rocks should be a must listen for any of their dedicated followers because it will solidify that the Bob that rocks has never went away!
Boston Spaceships: Our Cubehouse Still Rocks [Fire Note Review 9/1/10]
#9
The Tallest Man On EarthThe Wild Hunt
Dead Oceans Records [2010]
Kristian Matsson proved that you don't need anything more then an interesting voice and a working guitar to release a great album. His Tallest Man On Earth's sophomore record, The Wild Hunt captured your attention on the first spin and only got better with repeat listens, as the tight production brought his voice to life and showcased his emotional range. It is easy to compare him to Dylan, right down to the voice, but in this case it is not a bad thing, as The Tallest Man On Earth fires on all cylinders and makes for an excellent listen from beginning to end!
The Tallest Man On Earth: The Wild Hunt [Fire Note Review 4/20/10]
#8
Tame ImpalaInnerspeaker
Modular Records [2010]
Innerspeaker is a mountain of a record from Australia's Tame Impala and it needs to be consumed as one big opus and not chopped into bits. All of the songs play off each other and it doesn't matter if Tame Impala is swirling through some stoner rock or hitting you with some British Invasion, the band intelligently make it all fit together with seamless transitions. Innerspeaker had plenty of fuzz and psychedelic 60's rock to make any speaker happy but it's density is what made the record great, as Tame Impala blew you over with their musical muscle, only to have you ask for more after you get back up!
Tame Impala: Innerspeaker [Fire Note Review 7/2/10]
#7
Best CoastCrazy For You
Mexican Summer Records [2010]
Bethany Cosentino (Best Coast) came to us with her debut LP, Crazy For You at the right time in the right place! Best Coast rode the wave of lo-fi pop brilliance, slacker presentation, and easy to understand lyrics, which resulted in an absolutely catchy as hell record. Crazy For You was short, smart, and simple, which felt like the perfect summer album but I am still playing it. This was one pre-hyped record that lived up to expectations and is an entertaining listen every time you spin it!
Best Coast: Crazy For You [Fire Note Review 7/28/10]
#6
Vampire WeekendContra
XL Recordings [2010]
It would be easy to say that Vampire Weekend did it again - but they did it again. Vampire Weekend avoided the sophomore slump by resting on their talents and expanding their dimensions. Their indie pop is so infectious as their songs are memorable, foot tapping and timeless. Contra may not have immediately grabbed you like their debut, but as a whole, the record is in it for the long haul with a smooth swagger that hits with a high level of impact and still sounds fresh today!
Vampire Weekend: Contra [Fire Note Review 1/13/10]
#5
LCD SoundsystemThis Is Happening
Virgin/DFA Records [2010]
On James Murphy's third record, This Is Happening, he masterfully brought everything he knows and does well together. This Is Happening showcased Murphy's talents for pulling some of the best components of rocks history and cultivating them into his own gorgeous album that had attitude, beats, catchy anthems and a likability that just shouldn't come this naturally. With most tracks pushing beyond the 6 minute mark, LCD Soundsystem incorporated plenty of action to keep the songs moving and it never dulled. This was the true genius behind This Is Happening, as it never slowed down and just kept giving more with repeat listens.
LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening [Fire Note Says 5/18/10]
#4
The Black KeysBrothers
Nonesuch Records [2010]
On their last several releases, The Black Keys seemed to distance themselves from their grinding blues garage rock in favor of a more refined sound that found them experimenting with different instruments but on Brothers the duo found their way back. The record is a true balance of their earlier raw material but now it is presented with a maturity that gives it distance and a bluesy sophistication. It is nice to see all of the good press The Black Keys have recently received on Brothers, as they have paid their dues, but this record really speaks for itself and its cool swagger keeps your interest well beyond its conclusion!
The Black Keys: Brothers [Fire Note Review 5/19/10]
#3
DeerhunterHalcyon Digest
4AD Records [2010]
Great lyrics, great pace, great originality and great melodies are good descriptors for Deerhunter's excellent Halcyon Digest. What made Halcyon Digest stand out was Deerhunter's focus shift of offering an array of sounds, which included saxophone, banjo, autoharp, harmonica and even acoustic guitar. The other stand out difference was the band shining a brighter light on its harmonies, which made so many of the tracks memorable. Halcyon Digest simply found Deerhunter at their most confident, as tracks flowed and swayed without any worry and its consistent demeanor won you over every time!
Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest [Fire Note Review 9/30/10]
#2
Arcade FireThe Suburbs
Merge Records [2010]
The Suburbs is the third long player from Arcade Fire and it is the bands most complex, grandiose, and expansive work to date. It was not a record that immediately won you over but as you absorbed its themed conceptual narratives, every listener at some point could resonate with and would become completely enthralled by the story line. It is this kind of meticulous precision that makes Arcade Fire one of the great indie bands of the moment. When we look back on this stretch of modern music, Arcade Fire will be remembered as a group that defined it and The Suburbs will most certainly be part of that conversation!
Arcade Fire: The Suburbs [Fire Note Review 8/3/10]
#1
The NationalHigh Violet
4AD Records [2010]
What you found on The National's superb release High Violet was an intensity that ebbed and flowed, as its textures surrounded the well know anguished baritone of lead singer Matt Berninger and more so, found the band building momentum within its tracks, as they faded in and out. The National are experts at controlling their musical environment with well known song structures, which give you an album that slow burns its way into your permanent memory. Their records are made to be played over and over and High Violet fit that mold to the very last song. It was our number one because it still sounds better today then when I played it in May and High Violet can elicit different core emotions from every corner of its dense composition. High Violet is a record that has helped finalize the rising of The National and should be the catalyst that propels them to continued success!
The National: High Violet [Fire Note Review 5/7/10]
Well that is it for 2010. Feel free to post some of your top albums this year - we would love to see them. Have a great holiday and we will see you on January 3rd for our first review in 2011, however The Fire Note will be active on its Facebook page so be sure to hop over and check it out.
Thanks for all the support in 2010 and helping make The Fire Note a success for another year!
